Father involvement and demographic factors influencing anti-social behaviours of adolescent learners in South Africa

Abstract

South Africa enjoys the highest rates of fathers' absence (not father involvement) among Blacks in Africa after Namibia and in addition, have an increasing living father absence for all racial groups and among blacks in particular, thereby, creating knowledge gaps on father involvement (FI) research. Using a cross-sectional design, 479 participants (299 males, 180 females) were randomly sampled from a community High School in the North West Province, South Africa. Results show that FI (F(1,471), = 3.359, P<.05) and gender (F(1,471), = 33.970, P<.001) significantly influenced anti-social behaviour (ASB) of adolescents. Age was not significant. Recommendations are made based on the findings of the study including the need to have compulsory clinical psychological services in schools for periodic assessment and early detection of learners with anti-social behaviour and a general attitudinal change among fathers to sensitize involvement and have meaningful impact in their children's lives.