Family Influences on Moral Behaviour among Secondary School Students in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract The family is the primary social environment in which children acquire values, behavioural expectations and patterns of conduct. Concerns about examination malpractice, bullying, truancy, substance abuse, cyber-related offences, disrespect for authority and violence among secondary school students have intensified interest in family factors associated with adolescents’ moral behaviour. This study examined the relationships between family structure, parents’ economic status, parents’ educational level and moral behaviour among secondary school students in Southwest Nigeria. A descriptive survey design of the correlational type was adopted. The population comprised of Senior Secondary School students in public secondary schools in the sampled states. A multistage procedure yielded 600 students from 30 schools. Data were collected with the researcher-developed Family Influence and Moral Behaviour Questionnaire (FIMBQ), which was validated by experts in Social Studies Education and Measurement and Evaluation. Test–retest reliability among 40 students outside the study area yielded a coefficient of 0.83. Pearson’s product–moment correlation was used to test the reported relationships at the .05 level. Family structure was positively related to moral behaviour (r = .395, p < .05). Parents’ economic status also showed a positive relationship with moral behaviour (r = .401, p < .05), as did parents’ educational level (r = .398, p < .05). The findings indicate that the three family characteristics examined were significantly associated with students’ moral behaviour. The study supports stronger family support, parental involvement and school–family collaboration in promoting positive moral values among adolescents. Keywords: family structure, parents’ economic status, parents’ educational level, moral behavior, secondary school students,