The Evolving family System and Violent Juvenile Delinquency in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between the evolving family system and violent juvenile delinquency in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Ondo State, Nigeria. It examines the challenges associated with changing family structures and the extent to which parental social control accounts for variations in delinquent behavior. Anchored on Hirschi’s Social Control Theory, the study reviewed literature on family structures to explain adolescent delinquency through parent-child relationships across different family types. Adopting a qualitative design, the study conducted Focus Group Discussions and In-Depth Interviews on sixty-four participants - eight groups of 6-8 participants each. Participants included parents and children from both two-parent and single-parent households. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings reveal that economic instability, domestic violence, infidelity, and the increasing role of women as breadwinners have weakened family cohesion. Respondents acknowledged that family structure significantly influences juvenile socialization, with single-parent families often lacking consistent supervision, monitoring, and mentoring from both parents. Adolescents from intact two-parent families reported lower odds of engaging in violent delinquency, especially when under adequate parental social control. The study recommends that parents, regardless of family structure or employment demands, should prioritize time for monitoring and mentoring their wards to protect them from negative peer influence and other risk factors associated with violent juvenile delinquency.