Abstract

The research aimed to examine the occurrence of anti-social behaviors affecting adolescents’ academic engagement in a selection of secondary schools within the Buea Municipality. Specifically, the investigation focused on determining the impact of sexual activities, alcohol intake, cigarette consumption, and substance misuse on adolescents’ academic involvement. Four research inquiries and four propositions were developed to direct the study.

Relevant literature was analyzed through conceptual, theoretical, and empirical evaluations. The study utilized a convergent mixed parallel methodology, sampling 312 adolescents from 6 chosen secondary schools in the Buea Municipality.

The data collection tools included a questionnaire and an interview guide tailored for students. The instruments’ validity and reliability were established. Data gathered via the questionnaire were examined using descriptive and inferential statistics. The Pearson product moment correlation was employed to evaluate the hypothesis at P

In addition, findings revealed that there was a strong correlation between drug abuse and adolescents’ academic participation Thus anti-social behaviours has a significant influence on adolescents academic participation.

By implication the involvement of adolescents in anti-social practices such as sex, alcohol, cigarette smoking and drug abuse influences their academic participation. It was therefore recommended that sex education be introduced in schools before adolescence, so as to ensure teenagers go through the transition from adolescence to adulthood without compromising their education goals.

Also, campaigns against cigarette, drugs, and substance use should be incorporated in health education curricula of colleges with a special focus on the adverse consequences of the substances used and the establishment of counseling centers for drug control.

Check out: Educational Psychology Project Topics with Materials