An Exploratory Study on factors contributing towards deviant behavior among adolescents in selected senior secondary schools of district Mohali, Punjab with a view to develop an information booklet

 

Ujjwal Sharma¹, Sonia Sharma², Daljeet Kaur³

¹M.Sc. Nursing, (Mental Health Nursing) Mata Sahib Kaur College of Nursing, Mohali.

²HOD, (Mental Health Nursing) Mata Sahib Kaur College of Nursing, Mohali.

³Assistant Professor, (Mental Health Nursing) Mata Sahib Kaur College of Nursing, Mohali.

 

ABSTRACT:

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Adolescence is a social phenomenon as well as developmental stage marked by accelerated growth and emotional turmoil.¹ The adolescent is particularly vulnerable to certain peculiar eating, disorders on account of hormonal and physiological changes say anorexia, burlier and obesity.²

 

Adolescents are not a homogenous population. They exist in a variety of circumstances and have diverse needs. The transition from childhood to adulthood involves dramatic physical, sexual, psychological and social developmental changes, all taking place at the same time. In addition to opportunities for development this transition poses risks to their health and well being.³

 

Deviant behavior is conduct that deviates from the societal norms. By this definition alone, deviance is neither good nor bad, but must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Such behavior may be described as unexpected, and may elicit positive or negative responses from other people.⁴ The World Health Organization estimates that there are about 2 billion people worldwide who consume alcohol beverages and 76.3 million with diagnosable alcohol disorders. According to a study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Science, Delhi, over the past 20 years, the numbers of drinkers have increased from one in 300 to one in 20.⁵

 

Risk factors may be found in the person, the environment, or the person's ability to respond to the demands or requirements of the environment. Some risk factors come into play during childhood or even earlier, whereas others do not come into sight until adolescence. Some involve the family, the school, or the peer group, others the neighborhood. Some become less important as a person matures, while others persist throughout the life span.⁶

 

NEED OF THE STUDY:

Alcoholism is considered as a serious public health issue in India and at large in the world. Adolescence is a period of the life cycle when individuals are managing multiple and complex development tasks. Adolescence have less self control, emotional stability and more likely to smoke, drink, use drugs, and get in to trouble with the law.⁷

 

A study was conducted in 2008 to explore the prevalence and patterns of behavioral and emotional problems in 1150 adolescents in 12 to 18 year age group in grades 7 to 12 in 10 co-educational faculties (government run and private). Behavioral and emotional problems were assessed using Youth Self-Report (2001) questionnaire. Family stressors were assessed using a pre-tested 23 item questionnaire. Prevalence of behavioral and emotional problems in adolescents was found to be 30%, with girls exceeding boys in all age groups. Internalizing syndrome was the most common (28.6%) psychiatric problem.⁸

 

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

An exploratory study on factors contributing towards deviant behavior among adolescents in selected senior secondary schools of district Mohali, Punjab with a view to develop an information booklet.

 

OBJECTIVES:

·       To assess the deviant behavior among adolescents in selected senior secondary schools of district Mohali, Punjab.

·       To assess the factors contributing towards deviant behavior among adolescents in selected senior secondary schools of district Mohali, Punjab.

·       To associate the findings with selected socio demographic variables.

·       To develop and administer information booklet on deviant behavior among adolescents in selected senior secondary schools of district Mohali, Punjab.

 

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS:

·       Deviant Behavior:

It refers to the behavior of adolescent which is culturally and socially not acceptable, unmoral act that violate the social and basic rights of others. Deviant behavior includes theft, assault and psychoactive substance abuse (alcoholism, cigarette smoking), truancy.

 

·       Truancy:

It refers to the unapproved absence from school by the adolescent without from parent’s knowledge.

 

·       Theft:

It refers to an illegal taking of another person’s property without permission from the person by an adolescent.

 

·       Psychoactive Substance Abuse:

It refers to the excessive use of any substance by adolescent like alcohol, cigarette smoking.  

 

·       Adolescents:

It refers to the children who are in the age group of 15-18 years and studying in 11^th and 12^th standard in selected senior secondary schools of district Mohali, Punjab.

 

·       Senior Secondary School:

It refers to the school which provides secondary education to the adolescent between the ages of 15-19 years.

 

·       Information Booklet:

It refers to written self-learning material on factors contributing towards deviant behavior and prepared with attractive pictures and in simple language.

 

Assumptions:

It was assumed that deviant behavior is more common in adolescents and certain factors contributing towards deviant behavior among adolescents.

 

Delimitations:

The study was delimited to:

1.     Adolescents from the selected senior secondary schools of Mohali.

2.     Adolescents who were available at the time of data collection.

3.     Adolescents who were willing to participate in study.

 

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

Cutrín O, Gómez-Fraguela JA, Maneiro L, Sobral J, 2017 conducted a study on effects of parenting practices through deviant peers on nonviolent and violent antisocial behaviors in middle- and late-adolescence. The sample was further divided into younger group (n = 377), aged 14 to 16 (M = 15.27, SD = 0.72), 45.9% males, and an older group (n = 206), aged 17 to 19 (M = 17.30, SD = 0.54), 48.5% males. The findings showed the reciprocal results of selection and interaction process with society which suggest that there was need of early interventions for preventing the development of antisocial behavior.⁹

 

Ayorinde JO, Adegboyega LO, 2017 conducted a study in Kwara State on perceived causes and incidences of deviant behavior among all senior secondary school two (SSS II) students.10 secondary schools were sampled, while from each selected school 40 senior secondary school two (SSS II) were randomly selected from each school selected. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 400 students out of 3609 SSS II students in selected schools across the L.G.A (Ilorin East). A questionnaire tagged “Causes and Incidences of Deviant Behavior Questionnaire” (CIDBQ) was adapted from Moses (2013) was used to collect data from the respondents. The independent t-test and Analysis of Variance were used to test null hypotheses.¹⁰

 

P. Balakrishnan, 2011 conducted a study in Bangalore to assess the knowledge and attitude of adolescents (16-18 years) regarding alcoholism and its hazards between selected rural and urban Pre-University college. 60 adolescents were selected by using proportionate stratified random sampling technique from each Pre-University College. Total sample was 120. The result shows that an equal proportion 81.7% (49) of adolescents had moderate level of knowledge in rural and urban PU College. Majority 11.7% (07) of urban PU College had adequate knowledge than the rural (6.7%) PU College adolescents, remaining 11.7% (07) of rural and 6.7% (04) of urban PU College adolescents had inadequate knowledge regarding alcoholism and its hazards. Majority 60% (36) of them had favorable attitude in urban PU College and 55% (33) of them had neutral attitude in rural PU College.¹¹

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Research Approach:

A Quantitative Research Approach

 

Research Design:

An Exploratory Research Design

 

Research Setting:

District Mohali, Punjab

 

Sample:

200 Adolescents

 

Sampling Technique:

Non - Probability, Convenient Sampling Technique

 

Inclusion Criteria:

Study includes adolescents:

1.     Who were studying in 11^th and 12^th standard in selected senior secondary schools of Mohali, Punjab.

2.     Who were available at the time of data collection.

 

Exclusion Criteria:

Study excludes the adolescents:

1.     who were not willing to participate in the study.

 

Description of tool:

The tool consists of three sections:

Section-A: Socio-demographic variable :-This section consisted personal information of adolescents about age (in years), gender, religion, type of family, number of sibling, family income per month, educational status of mother, working status of mother, educational status of father, working status of father, class attendance, which social networking site you use very often in leisure time.

 

Section-B: Modified Normative Deviance Scale:

This section includes modified normative deviance scale which consisted of 32 statements. These items were scored on a 4 point rating scale, with the option never (0), once (1), 2-3 times (2), more than three times (3) for the deviant behavior. The maximum score was 96 and minimum was 0.

 

Plan of Data Analysis:

Coding sheet was prepared for data analysis. Data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

 

RESULTS:

Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of selected socio-demographic variables of adolescents                                    N= 200

Sr. No.	Socio-demographic variables		Frequency (f)	Percentage (%)
1.	Age(in years)	15-16	141	70.5
		17-18	59	29.5
2.	Gender	Male	82	41
		Female	118	59
		Transgender	0	0
3.	Religion	Hindu	115	57.5
		Sikh	10	5
		Muslim	72	36
		Christian	3	1.5
		Any other	0	0
4.	Type of Family	Nuclear Family	124	62
		Joint Family	76	38
5.	Number of Siblings	None	3	1.5
		One	66	33
		Two	59	29.5
		More than three	72	36
6.	Family Income per Month (in rupees)	Below 15,000	47	23.5
		15,001-30,000	61	3.5
		30,001-50,000	80	40
		Above 50,000	12	6
7.	Educational Status of Mother	No Formal education	57	28.5
		Primary	15	7.5
		Secondary	57	28.5
		Senior Secondary	49	24.5
		Graduate or above	22	11
8.	Working Status of Mother	Working	71	35.5
		Non-Working	129	64.5
9.	Educational Status of Father	No Formal education	16	8
		Primary	18	9
		Secondary	35	17.5
		Senior Secondary	66	33
		Graduate or above	65	32.5
10.	Working Status of Father	Working	197	98.5
		Non-Working	3	1.5
11.	Class Attendance	<50 %	11	5.5
		51-70%	22	11
		71-90%	105	52.5
		>90%	62	31
12.	Which Social Networking Site you use very often in Leisure Time (can tick multiple responses).	Whatsapp	111	55.5
		Facebook	34	17
		Instagram	18	9
		Tiktok	20	10
		Snapchat	17	8.5

 

Table 2.1: Frequency and percentage distribution of adolescents according to item wise responses in modified normative deviance scale regarding level of deviant behavior                                                                                                                                      N=200

Sr. No.	Statements	Never		Once		2-3 times		More than 3 times
		f	%	f	%	f	%	f	(%)
	SCHOOL MISCONDUCT
	Have you ever skipped school without intimating to class in charge/ parents?	122	61.0	53	26.5	14	7.0	11	5.5
	Have you ever cheated in school tests?	12	6.0	47	23.5	92	46.0	49	24.5
	Have you ever indulged in such activity at school that makes your parents received a phone call about it from school?	124	62.0	61	30.5	5	2.5	10	5.0
	Have you ever been rusticated from school for your bad behavior?	190	95.0	8	4.0	1	0.5	1	0.5
	VANDALISM
	Have you ever smashed bottles in the school grounds?	61	30.5	95	47.5	32	16.0	12	6.0
	Have you ever smashed bottles on the street?	77	38.5	37	18.5	63	31.5	23	11.5
	Have you ever intentionally damaged or destroyed property belonging to your family members?	123	61.5	61	30.5	12	6.0	4	2.0
	Have you ever damaged seats of your school bus?	119	59.5	47	23.5	32	16.0	2	1.0
	Have you ever written graffiti/draw on a bus?	91	45.5	56	28.0	43	21.5	10	5.0
	Have you ever written graffiti/draw on school walls?	76	38.0	37	18.5	61	30.5	26	13.0
	THEFT
	Have you ever tried to stolen something valuable personal item from family members?	148	74.0	26	13.0	15	7.5	11	5.5
	Have you ever tried to stolen money from family members’ wallet?	146	73.0	50	25.0	4	2.0	0	0.0
	Have you ever stolen or pick items from shop without shopkeeper's permission?	142	71.0	20	10.0	37	18.5	1	0.5
	Have you ever stolen things from public places?	174	87.0	11	5.5	8	4.0	7	3.5
	Have you ever bought or sold stolen items?	190	95.0	2	1.0	7	3.5	1	0.5
	ASSAULT
	Have you ever hit a person?	53	26.5	80	40.0	56	28.0	11	5.5
	Have you ever threatened a person?	66	33.0	57	28.5	58	29.0	19	9.5
	Have you ever been involved in gang fights?	111	55.5	56	28.0	27	13.5	6	3.0
	Have you ever use weapons in the school that can cause serious harm to others?	157	78.5	33	16.5	9	4.5	1	0.5
	Have you ever beaten someone so badly that they required medical attention?	179	89.5	14	7.0	2	1.0	5	2.5
	CIGARETTE SMOKING
	Does anybody smoke cigarette in your peer circle which provoke your feeling to smoke cigarette?	174	87.0	15	7.5	10	5.0	1	0.5
	Do your friends pressurize you for cigarette smoking?	175	87.5	8	4.0	12	6.0	5	2.5
	Have you ever tried for cigarette smoking?	141	70.5	56	28.0	2	1.0	1	0.5
	Have you ever copy your family members who smoke?	192	96.0	7	3.5	1	0.5	0	0.0
	ALCOHOL USE
	Have you ever been pressurized by someone to take alcohol?	160	80.0	27	13.5	11	5.5	2	1.0
	Have you ever drink alcohol?	153	76.5	33	16.5	12	6.0	2	1.0
	Have you ever gone to the club to get alcohol?	199	99.5	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	0.5
	Have you ever been gone to school after taking alcohol?	200	100.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0
	MISCELLANEOUS
	Have you ever ride a motorbike or car without parent’s permission?	39	19.5	69	34.5	34	17.0	58	29.0
	Have you ever used public transport without paying fare?	84	42.0	58	29.0	44	22.0	14	7.0
	Have you ever intentionally disobeyed traffic rules while driving a vehicle?	92	46.0	54	27.0	31	15.5	23	11.5
	Have you ever failed to return extra change that you knew a cashier gave you by mistake?	89	44.5	71	35.5	24	12.0	16	8.0

 

Table 2.2: Frequency and percentage distribution of level of deviant behavior among adolescents                                         N=200

Level of deviant behavior	Score	F	(%)	Mean	Median	SD
Mild	0-32	187	93.5	18.83	17.00	10. 46
Moderate	33-64	12	6.0
Severe	65-96	1	0.5

 

Table 2.3: depicts the level of deviant behavior among adolescents. The majority of the adolescents 187(93.5%) had mild level of deviant behavior, 12(6.0%) had moderate level of deviant behavior and 1(0.5%) had severe level of deviant behavior.

 

Fig 1: showing level of deviant behavior among adolescents.

 

Table 3: Frequency and percentage distribution of contributing factors towards deviant behavior among adolescents           N=200

Contributing factors	Score	F	(%)	Mean	Median	SD
Mild	0-15	0	0.0	32.20	32.00	5.08
Moderate	16-30	75	37.5
Severe	31-35	125	62.5

 

Fig: showing frequency and percentage distribution of contributing factors towards deviant behavior among adolescents.

 

Table 4: Association of level of deviant behavior with selected demographic variables                                                               N=200

Sr. No.	Variables	Level of deviant behavior	χ2
			df
		Mild	Moderate	Severe	p-value
		N1=187	N2=12	N3=1
	Age(in years)
	15-16	132	8	1	0.504
					2
	17-18	55	4	0	0.777NS
	Gender
	Male	74	7	1	3.087
	Female	113	5	0	2
	Transgender	0	0	0	0.214NS
	Religion
	Hindu	104	10	1	4.439
	Sikh	10	0	0	6
	Muslim	70	2	0	0.618NS
	Christian	3	0	0
	Any other	0	0	0
	Type of Family
	Nuclear Family	115	9	0	2.512
					2
	Joint Family	72	3	1	0.285NS
	Number of Siblings
	None	2	1	0	8.127
	One	61	5	0	6
	Two	58	1	0	0.229NS
	More than three	66	5	1
	Family Income per Month (in rupees)
	Below 15,000	42	5	0	4.315
	15,001-30,000	58	3	0	6
	30,001-50,000	75	4	1	0.634NS
	Above 50,000	12	0	0
	Educational Status of Mother
	No Formal education	57	0	0	28.077
	Primary	15	0	0	8
	Secondary	55	2	0	0.001*
	Senior Secondary	38	10	1
	Graduate or above	22	0	0
	Working Status of Mother
	Working	60	10	1	14.76
					2
	Non-Working	127	2	0	0.001*
	Educational Status of Father
	No Formal education	16	0	0	6.34
	Primary	18	0	0	8
	Secondary	34	1	0	0.609NS
	Senior Secondary	59	6	1
	Graduate or above	60	5	0
	Working Status of Father
	Working	184	12	1	0.212
					2
	Non-Working	3	0	0	0.900NS
	Class attendance
	<50 %	11	0	0	9.104
	51-70%	22	0	0	6
	71-90%	100	4	1	0.168NS
	>90%	54	8	0
	Which Social Networking Site you use very often in Leisure Time (can tick multiple responses)
	Whatsapp	106	4	1	13.077
	Facebook	30	4	0	8
	Instagram	18	0	0	0.109NS
	Tiktok	16	4	0
	Snapchat	17	0	0

*Significant: (P<0.05); Not Significant: (NS)

 

CONCLUSION:

From the findings, present study concluded that:

1.     In schools of Mohali mild level of deviant behavior was present among adolescent and miscellaneous and school misconduct was the highest deviant behavior seen among adolescents of selected senior secondary schools of district Mohali.

2.     High expectations, mass media and strictness had more influence on deviant behavior among adolescents.

3.     There was significant association of level of deviant behavior with educational status of mother, working status of mother.

4.     There was significant association of factors contributing for deviant behavior with religion, number of siblings, educational status of mother, and educational status of father and class attendance.

 

DISCUSSION:

Study conducted by Mbuthia, Winnie Wairimu, 2014, showed most common forms of deviant behavior were drug use (92%) and alcohol use (87%).

 

Study conducted by Nkhata J Milliward, Mwale Marisel, 2016, showed that adolescents were involved in deviant behavior 73% adolescents are involved in deviant behavior.

 

Study conducted by Yusuf Suleiman, Jamiu Mahmood Suleiman, 2018 showed that there was no significant association of age, religion with level of deviant behavior.

 

Study conducted by Linda Trudeau, W. Alex Mason, 2012 showed that there was no significant association of gender with parenting technique deviant behavior.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Grateful acknowledgement is extended to Mr. Barjinder Kumar Aneja for the valuable help in statistical analysis.

 

ETHICAL CONSIDERATION:

1.     Permission for research study was taken from Principal of Mata Sahib Kaur College of Nursing, Balongi.

2.     Permission for research study was taken from ethical committee of Mata Sahib Kaur College of Nursing, Balongi.

3.     Permission for research study was taken from principal of selected schools of district Mohali.

4.     Researcher explained the purpose of the study to the adolescents and had taken and written informed consent for their participation in the study.

5.     Confidentiality of information of all respondents was maintained.

 

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3.      World health organization child and adolescent health and development Available from: http://www.searo.who.int/entity/child_adolescent/topics/adolescent_health/en/

4.      Available from: https://legaldictionary.net/deviant-behavior/

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9.      Cutrín O, Gómez-Fraguela JA, Maneiro L, Sobral J. Effects of parenting practices through deviant peers on nonviolent and violent antisocial behaviours in middle- and late-adolescence. The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context. 2017 Jul 1;9(2):75–82. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1889186116300518

10.   Ayorinde JO, Adegboyega LO. Perceived Causes and Incidences of Deviant BehaviourAmong Secondary School Students in Kwara State. ATBU Journal of Science, Technology and Education. 2017 Sep 12;5(3):41–9. Available from: http://www.atbuftejoste.com/index.php/joste/article/view/363

11.   P. Balakrishnan. A Comparative study to assess the knowledge and attitude of adolescents (16-18 years) regarding alcoholism and its hazards between selected rural and urban Pre-University College at Bangalore. Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research 1(1): Jan.-March 2011; Page 31-36.

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Received on 05.07.2021             Modified on 17.10.2021

Accepted on 05.01.2022        ©A&V Publications All right reserved