PARENTING STYLES AND SELF-ESTEEM AS PREDICTORS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS

There has an increasing database indicating that substance use and abuse among in-school adolescents in Nigeria is on the increase. Studies investigating psychological factors predicting substance abuse gave varying results. Therefore, this study examined parenting styles and self-esteem as predictors of substance abuse among in-school adolescents in Ido, Nigeria. Cross-sectional survey design was used while data were collected using validated scales from 306 in-school adolescents from five randomly selected secondary schools. Data collected were analyzed using t-test of independent sample and multiple regressions to test three hypotheses. The result revealed that parenting styles and self-esteem jointly predicted substance abuse among study participants. The implication of this study is that there is high prevalence of substance abuse among in-school adolescents which need to be addressed immediately.