Beyond the Screen: Uncovering the Roots of Delinquency Among In-School Adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Abstract

Delinquency among school-aged adolescents is a widespread issue in both developed and
developing countries, with serious social, academic, and emotional effects on the individuals
involved and the wider community. Studies have identified some factors as causes of
delinquency. But there is limited research on the psychosocial factors that are associated with
delinquency in Nigeria. This study examined the contributions of peer pressure and social media use
to delinquency among secondary school students in Ibadan, Oyo state, south western Nigeria. The
study involved a sample size of 300 respondents selected through multi-stage sampling technique.
Questionnaires were administered to the participants to gather relevant quantitative data. Analysis
was conducted using multiple regression analysis. Findings showed that students who experienced
higher levels of peer pressure reported higher levels of delinquency. On the other hand, social media
use did not have a significant influence in delinquency among secondary school students. The
findings suggest that peer pressure remains a more potent predictor of delinquent behavior than
general social media use among secondary school students. This underscores the importance of
targeting peer dynamics and strengthening adolescents' resistance to peer pressure in delinquency
prevention efforts. Interventions focused solely on limiting social media use may be less effective
unless they address the social contexts and relationships that shape youth behavior both online and