ADOLESCENTS’ APPRAISAL OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PARENTS TOWARD THEIR SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH EASTERN STATES OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the adolescents’ appraisal of the contributions of parents towards their social behaviour and motor skill development in South Eastern States of Nigeria. Four research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The design was evaluation survey. The population of the study was 36240 Senior Secondary (III) students from public schools in south eastern states of Nigeria during the 2022/2023 academic year. The sample size consisted of 3000 students chosen through multi stage technique. A standard inventory developed by Enugu State ministry of education to access social behaviour and motor skill development among secondary schools was used. The data collected was analysed using aggregate scores for research questions 1 and 3 and mean scores for research questions 2 and 4. The hypotheses were tested using t- test for mean scores at .05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed among others the following: that the adolescents were not satisfied with the levels of their social behaviour and motor skill developments. About 63.3% and 62.01% of the study sample stated their social behaviour and motor skill development respectively as compromised hence were not satisfied with it. While the remaining 36.6% and 37.99% were satisfied with their general levels of social behaviour and motor skill development. The study also showed that the adolescents rated the contributions of their parents poorly. Finally the study also observed an urban-rural difference. The following recommendations were made and they include: the need to intensify parental provision, availability and support. There is also the need to provide more non formal learning centres among others.