The Relationship between Resilience and Disruptive Behaviour among In-School Adolescents in Lagos State

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the relationship between resilience and disruptive behaviour among in-school adolescents in Lagos State, Nigeria. The objectives were to examine: the association between six resilience dimensions (family support, confidant-friend support, school support, adjustment, sense of struggle, and empathy) and disruptive behaviour; the differences between sex and family type on disruptive behaviour. A cross-sectional design was employed, sampling 897 adolescents (M = 14.8 years; 50.8% male) from selected secondary schools using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using validated psychological resilience and disruptive behaviour scales. Results revealed a significant negative correlation between disruptive behaviour and four resilience dimensions: family support, school support, sense of struggle, and empathy. Regression analysis showed that these resilience dimensions jointly accounted for 6.6% of the variance in disruptive behaviour, with only family and school support emerging as significant predictors. Male adolescents exhibited significantly higher disruptive behaviour than females, while no significant differences were found based on family type. The findings highlight the crucial role of familial and school support in behavioural regulation and suggest the need for gender-sensitive and context-specific interventions.