Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between single parenting and youth deviant behaviour has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While single parenting is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on youth deviant behaviour within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to single parenting are helping or hindering youth deviant behaviour — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Single Parenting on youth deviant behaviour in Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which single parenting influences youth deviant behaviour within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with single parenting in relation to youth deviant behaviour.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing single parenting in order to improve youth deviant behaviour.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of single parenting on youth deviant behaviour in Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does single parenting influence youth deviant behaviour within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with single parenting in relation to youth deviant behaviour?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize single parenting in order to improve youth deviant behaviour?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around youth deviant behaviour. For managers and practitioners within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how single parenting can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on sociology by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Single Parenting and its relationship with youth deviant behaviour within the context of Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria. It reflects a MSc-level scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.