EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF SELF-CONCEPT, FAMILY STRUCTURE AND ATTITUDE OF UNDERGRADUATES TOWARD CYBERCRIME IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOLOGY

Abstract

The study investigated the self-concept, family structure and attitude of undergraduates toward cybercrime in South-South Nigeria. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The survey design was adopted for the study. Stratified, purposive and accidental sampling techniques were used for sampling purposes. The population was stratified into 7 states that make up South-South, Nigeria. Four states were randomly selected then from universities randomly picked one from each of the sampled states. The Computer Science department was purposively picked from each of the selected universities while 762 participants were drawn from the departments using accidental sampling. Self concept, family variable and attitude toward cybercrime questionnaire (SCFVATCQ) was the instrument used for data collection. Face and construct validity of the instrument were duly established while the reliability of the instrument was established using the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation method yielding the co-efficient of 0.756 for self-concept and 0.855 for attitude towards cybercrime. Data collected were analyzed with independent t-test. The result of data analyzed revealed that self-concept and family structure have a significant influence on the attitude of undergraduates towards cybercrime in South-South Nigeria. It was recommended among other things that the universities administration should institute a programme of attitude change targeting cybercrime involvement and the need to imbibe cyber best practices that impact positively on individuals, and societal development at large. Such programmes should form a part of the orientation exercise for freshmen. Counselling services should be made available for students who are struggling to break away from engagement in cybercrime.