PARENTAL STYLES AS PREDICATORS OF CALLOUS-UNEMOTIONAL TRAITS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE

The study examined parental styles as predicators of callous-unemotional traits among secondary school students in Awka, Anambra State. The study used 286 secondary school students in Awka, Anambra State, comprising 131(45.8%) males and 155(54.2%) females aged from 14 to 18 years with mean age of 15.29 and a standard deviation of 1.46. Simple random sampling method was utilized in selecting the class and schools and purposive sampling method was employed to recruit participants. Instruments used in this study were the parental authority questionnaire which measures parenting styles, inventory of callous-unemotional traits which measures the callous-unemotional traits. Predictive design was employed for this study and Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data collected. The study revealed authoritative parenting style positively and significantly predicted callous unemotional traits at (F3, 282) β= .47, t = 9.73, p<.01, conversely, authoritarian parenting style negatively predict callous unemotional traits at (F3, 282) β= -.23, t = -4.92, p<.01, and permissive parenting style negatively predicted callous unemotional traits at (F3, 282) β= -.66, t = -13.17, p<.01. Based on the findings, the study recommended that parents, and teachers should assist in personality assessment and psychoeducation of students.