More urban adolescent boys take to drugs,bunk schools than girls

In an attempt to find out reasons for an increasing prevalence of deviant behaviour among adolescents,the study by PU’s Department of Life Long Learning and Extension revealed that parent-child relationship was one of the major causes of this behaviour.

Basing the study on a random sample of 100 adolescents (students of Classes IX and X) from urban and rural areas of Chandigarh,the research showed that due to urbanisation and nuclear families,the increasing gap between parents and children has proved to be the reason for deviant behaviour among boys.

“The study was an attempt to figure out reasons for deviant behaviour among adolescents. This behaviour,which is on an increase among young children,can be defined in terms of incidents of drug addiction,risk taking behaviour,violence,road rage,aggression,poor attendance in schools,dropouts and indiscipline,” said Professor Ajaib Singh,principal investigator in the research and the department director. While the department’s assistant director,Dr Sween,was the investigator,Sandeep Butola was the co-investigator.

According to the study,when behaviour of boys was compared to that of girls,not only it was found that girls have very little tendency towards deviant behaviour,it was also revealed that while the percentage of boys with very good behaviour was 46 per cent,the figure among girls was 76 per cent.

Comparing rural boys with rural girls,while 52 per cent boys showed very good behaviour,68 per cent girls were found in the range of very good behaviour. Deviant behaviour was found in 28 per cent boys and 8 per cent girls.

“Among urban boys and girls,not a single girl showed poor relationship with her mother while,44 per cent boys showed poor relationship with their mothers. The impact of relationship among children and parents resulting in deviant behaviour was found highest among urban boys. Particularly,relationship with their fathers had a high degree of negative impact on their behaviour,” said Dr Sween.

She added that the second phase of the research will focus on suggestions to plug such problems among adolescents.

“These days,grave problems like road rage and violence are on the increase. This needs to be checked at the earliest,” she said.