IMPACT OF ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON VALUE SYSTEM AMONG NIGERIAN YOUTHS

Abstract

The study examined impact of economic pressure and family climate on value system among Nigerian youths. The participants for the study were 497 youths drawn from Anambra Senatorial Zones (North, Central and South), Anambra State, Nigeria. The participants comprised of 239(48.1%) males, and 258(51.9%) females. Their age ranged from 18 to 34 years. The mean age was 25.33 and a standard deviation of 5.04. Marital status 285(57.3%) were married and 212(42.7%). Cluster sampling technique was used to select the cities. Incident sampling technique was used to select the participants; this was based on availability, willingness, and accessibility of the participants. Three instruments were used in the study: Northern-O’Brien Measure of Notions of Economic Inconveniences, Family Climate Scale and Value System Scale. The study adopted a cross sectional design and Univariate- analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed as appropriate statistics. The result indicated that economic pressure had significant impact on youths’ value system at (F1, 493) = 245.63, p<.05, with mean differences and standard deviation within the economic pressure: M= 42.61, SD= 4.53 (high) and M= 34.44, SD= 6.39 (low), N=497. Family climate had significant impact on youths’ value system at (F1, 493) = 18.26, p<.05, with mean differences and standard deviation within the family climate: M= 36.75, SD= 7.28 (positive) and M= 38.33, SD= 6.61 (negative), N=497. Economic pressure and family climate had no significant interaction effect on youths’ value system at (F1, 493) = .02, p>.05. The study findings have showed that economic pressure and family climate affect value system. This understanding may enable the youths to know how to strive and eschew unwholesome values that is likely to hamper the original values instil into them by the parents and significant others. This can be achieved through psycho-education and seminar/workshop about economic pressure and family climate. The education if assimilate very well by the youths will help them navigate the detrimental effects of economic pressure and family climate that affect youths’ value system.