Influence of Personality Traits and Parenting Styles on Perceived Criminal Behaviour among Youths in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

The involvement of youth in acts of criminality is without doubt a source of serious concern and worry among parents, would be parents, government, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies and indeed society at large who are the major victims of criminal attacks. The study aims to investigate the influence of personality traits and parenting styles on perceived criminal behaviour among youths in Abuja, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 384 youth aged 18–45 years selected through purposive sampling techniques. Three standardized instruments include the Big Five Personality Inventory (BFFI), Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), and Criminal Behaviour Scale (CBS) were used to measure personality traits, parenting styles and criminal behaviour among youth in Abuja, Nigeria. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that the authoritarian (r = .14) and permissive parenting styles (r = .22) were positively significantly related to criminal behaviour (r = .15). However, the authoritative parenting style establishes no significant relationship with criminal behaviour (r = -.12). Also, neuroticism (β = -.038, t= -2.523) and agreeableness (β=-.203; t=-4.052) personality traits made significant positive contribution to the influence of criminal behaviour among youth in Abuja. However, openness (β = .793, t = 14.822), conscientiousness (β=.276, t=5.645), and extraversion (β = .285, t = 6.445) personality traits have demonstrated statistically significant negative influence on criminal behaviour. It indicated that conscientiousness and extraversion personality trait had less chances of engaging in criminal behaviour. The study concludes that these insights are essential for developing targeted interventions and policies to mitigate the influence of personality traits and parenting styles on criminal behaviour among youth in Abuja, Nigeria. It recommends that the government should establish psychology departments and employ the services of trained and certified Psychologists across local, state and federal parastatals especially ministries of education, youth and development, and social welfare. They will provide psychological therapy and guidance to both parents, adults, and children.