Youth Culture as Correlate of Social Values of Undergraduates in South-East, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated youth culture as correlate of social values of undergraduates in South-East, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational survey design. The population of the study comprised 18, 200 male and female undergraduates of public and private universities in South-East, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling techniques were adopted to select a sample of 910 respondents for the study. The study was guided by 2 research questions and 2 null hypotheses. Two instruments: Youth Culture Scale (YCS), and Social Values Questionnaire (SVQ), were used for data collection. The instruments were validated by five experts. Data were analyzed using Regression Coefficient and PROCESS MACRO t-test through SPSS version 25.0. Hypothesis one was tested using Regression ANOVA while hypothesis two was tested using PROCESS MACRO t-test at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that: there was a significant relationship between youth culture and social values of undergraduate students; the moderating influence of gender on the correlation between youth culture and social values of undergraduate students was not significant. Based on the findings, it was recommended that: academic planners and lecturers should help in organizing yearly orientation programmes for the students in order to sensitize and enlighten them on the risks associated with negative youth practices; and the need to always imbibe positive attitudes within and outside the school environment; lecturers should focus more on the students’ behaviours and attitudes in and outside the campus; rather than relying only on the course contents. Policy makers, stakeholders and curriculum planners should design and implement programmes that would help students to recognize, appreciate and show regards for social values.