RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAMILY LEVELS OF EXPENDITURES AND SOCIO-COGNITIVE ADJUSTMENT LEVELS OF ADOLESCENTS IN ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between family levels of expenditures and socio-cognitive adjustment levels of adolescents in Anambra State, Nigeria. Three research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. Correlation survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was all the senior secondary school students in Anambra state during the 2020/2021 academic year. The sample size consisted of 656 students chosen through simple random sampling techniques. The research instrument was a questionnaire made of 25 items in two clusters and the data collected were analysed using aggregate scores to answer research questions 1, 2 and Pearson’s’ product moment of correlation for research question 3. The hypotheses were tested using –t- test for correlations. The findings revealed among others that there is high positive relationship between the Family levels of expenditures on adolescents and their socio-cognitive adjustment levels. That majority of the adolescents in Anambra state rated their socio-cognitive adjustment level to be fairly good, it also revealed that they are not satisfied with the family level of expenditures on them and siblings and that there is a rural/urban gap in both the family levels of expenditures of parents on adolescents and the levels of socio-cognitive adjustments of these adolescents. The following recommendations were made: that parents in Anambra state should step up and be more conscious of their responsibilities towards these adolescents. The stakeholders should try to reduce the urban/rural gap by extending basic amenities to the rural areas.