Social Variables as Correlates of Students’ Proneness to Cultism in Universities in Rivers State

Abstract

The study investigated social factors as correlates of students’ proneness to cultism in universities in Rivers State. The study adopted the correlation research design. Three research questions and three corresponding hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study comprised all 71,449 undergraduate students in the three government-owned universities in Rivers State, Nigeria (University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State University and Igntuius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni). The purposive sample sampling technique was used to select 600 students as the sample for the study. Three instruments (questionnaires) were used in collecting data for this study. They include; the Students’ Cultism Proneness Scale (SCPS), Parenting Styles Scale (PSS) and Peer Pressure Scale (PPS). The face and content validity of the instrument were ensured. The reliability of the instruments Students’ Cultism Proneness Scale (SCPS), Parenting Styles Scale (PSS), and Peer Pressure Scale (PPS) were determined using the Cronbach alpha method of internal consistency. The reliability coefficients obtained for Students’ Cultism Proneness Scale (SCPS) was 0.71, Parenting Styles Scale (PSS) 0.74, and Peer Pressure Scale (PPS) 0.71. The research questions were answered using Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient values and Multiple Regression Analysis while hypotheses were tested with ANOVA and t-test associated with regression at 0.05 Alpha level of significance. The finding of the study showed that peer pressure, and parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative, permissive) relate significantly with students’ proneness to cultism in Rivers State. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that, since parenting styles relate significantly to students proneness to cultism, parents and caregivers must be mindful of the type of parenting style that they adopt in raising their children. This could have a positive or negative influence on their children’s behaviour both in new and unfamiliar situations. Moreso, parents, and caregivers should endeavour to check and moderate the activities of their children from time to time, as this will help in reducing some mischievous behaviours that are carried on by students both at home and in school.