FAMILY VARIABLES AND DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR AMONG STUDENTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract: This study examined family variables and disruptive behaviour among students'in tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom State. To achieve the purpose of the study, four research questions were posed, and four null hypotheses were formulated and tested using One-way analysis of variance at 0.05 level of significance. Related literatures were reviewed according to the variables of the study. Ex-post facto research design was used for this study. Two hundred and twenty-seven (227) final year students were randomly selected from four departments, one each, from four selected tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom State was used for the study. The selection was done through stratified random sampling technique. The main instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire titled: "Family Variables and Disruptive Behaviour among Students' in Tertiary Institutions Questionnaire (FVDSTIQ). Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results of the analysis revealed that, parents' marital status does not have significant influence on disruptive behaviour of students' in tertiary institutions, family size does not have significant influence on disruptive behaviour of students' in tertiary institution; family type has a significant influence on disruptive behaviour of students' in tertiary institutions; parents' socio-economic status does not have significant influence on disruptive behaviour of students'. It was recommended among others, that students irrespective of their parents' marital status, family size, family type and parents' socio-economic status should be given the same level of punishment if found guilty of exhibiting disruptive behaviour.