Al-Hikmah University Journal

This study investigated Self-concept and Parenting Styles as Predictors of Substance Abuse among Secondary Schools Students Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State. The study adopted a correlation research design. The population for the study comprises of all senior secondary school students in Ilorin West Metropolis. Simple Random Sampling Technique was used to select 150 senior secondary school students within the Metropolis. The instruments used for the collection of data were self-developed Self-concept Scale (r = 0.82), Parenting Styles Scale (r= 0.73) and Sivester’s (2014) Substance Abuse Scale (r = 0.59). The data collected were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05. The findings revealed that there was significant relationship between self-concept and substance abuse among senior secondary school students within Ilorin Metropolis (r. calculated = 0.64, df = 198 and P < 0.05); there was significant relationship between parenting styles and substance abuse among senior secondary school students within Ilorin Metropolis. (r. calculated = 0.64, df = 198 and P < 0.05); there was significant joint contribution of self-concept and parenting styles to substance abuse among senior secondary school students in Ilorin Metropolis (AR2 = 0.59, df 2/97 = 71.13 and P < 0.05) and self-concept (β = 0.47) and parenting style (β = 0.46) had significant relative contributions to the prediction of substance abuse among senior secondary school students in Ilorin Metropolis. The findings were discussed and necessary recommendations based on the findings of this study were put forward. Important suggestions on how substance abuse can be curb base on the finding of this study by subsequent efforts on this or similar studies are provided.