Title: Parental Socio-Economic Background and Its Consequences on Youth Delinquency in Northern Senatorial District of Taraba State, Nigeria
Authors: Dr. Mbave Joshua Garba, Prof. Noah Lumun Abanyam, Madaki Ali Ibrahim
Volume: 9
Issue: 8
Pages: 214-220
Publication Date: 2025/08/28
Abstract:
Youth delinquency has remained a persistent challenge to social stability and human development, particularly in regions where poverty, unemployment, and family instability are widespread. This study examined the consequences of parental socio-economic background on youth delinquency in the Northern Senatorial District of Taraba State, Nigeria. Adopting a descriptive survey design, the study sampled 387 respondents drawn from youths, parents, teachers, traditional rulers, and security stakeholders across six Local Government Areas. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews to capture both quantitative and qualitative perspectives on delinquency. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and Chi-square tests were employed to analyze the quantitative data, while thematic analysis was applied to qualitative responses. Findings revealed that parental socio-economic disadvantages particularly poverty, low educational attainment, unemployment, and family instability were strongly associated with delinquent outcomes such as truancy, substance abuse, theft, and violent conduct. The correlation results (r = 0.651, p < .05) confirmed a significant positive relationship between low socio-economic status and delinquency. Furthermore, cultural tolerance of adolescent misconduct in some communities reinforced deviant behaviors, normalizing truancy and petty theft as youthful exuberance. Anchored on Control Theory and Cultural Deviance Theory, the study concludes that delinquency in Northern Taraba is shaped by both structural poverty and permissive cultural norms. It recommends parental economic empowerment, inclusive educational reforms, and community-level reorientation programs to address the root causes of youth delinquency and promote social stability.