INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND PARENTAL INFLUENCE ON DRUG/SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NNEWI NORTH LGA OF ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of emotional intelligence and parental influence on drug/substance use among secondary school students in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The population of the study was 3,685 students in the three schools used for the study. The sample of the study was 388 students purposively selected from the population. Three research questions and three hypotheses were raised to guide the study. The instruments for data collection were the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQi), Rohner & Khaleque Parental Control Questionnaire and the UN Office of Drug and Crime Drug Use Questionnaire. All the questionnaires were adapted to suit the present study. Simple percentages and Mean were used to answer the research questions, while Linear Regression was employed to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The results from the study revealed that emotional intelligence was found to have a significant influence on drug and substance use (F=3.318, P<0.069) also parental influence has a significant influence on drug and substance use (F= 5.829, P< 0.016). Finally, gender was found to have no significant influence on drug use (F=1.042, P>.308). The study concluded that emotional intelligence has a positive influence on non-indulgence in drug use among the study population. Also, parental influence has a lot to do in the life of young people as it was evident from this present study that parental influence helps students to avoid the use of drugs. In addition, gender has no significant influence on drug use among the students. The study therefore recommends among others that seminars and workshops should be organised regularly for students to constantly strengthen their emotional intelligence which will help them to resist any pressure to engage in social vices including drug use and abuse. Parents should always be reminded of their roles in the upbringing of their wards during parent-teacher forums in schools.

Keywords: Emotional Intelligence, Parental Influence, Drug use, Nnewi, Anambra State