Child abuse as a predictor of the level of involvement in gang activity among children in rural North-Central, Nigeria

Abstract

The menace of child abuse is serious malady with devastating consequences. While the influence of child abuse on crime has generally been investigated, its effects on the level of involvement in gang activity among underage individuals have not been examined in Nigeria. This study examined how exposure to child abuse, in terms of its degree and form, predicted the level of involvement in gang activity among underage individuals. The individual-in-family theory was the theoretical framework used for this research. The sample comprised 264 male and female underage gang members aged 9-17 years residing in rural communities in north-central Nigeria. The cross-sectional data were analyzed using t-tests and regression. The findings of the study revealed that children who experienced child abuse were more actively involved in gang activity than children who did not experience child abuse. Regarding the characteristics of the abuse, the age at first abuse, the form of abuse, and the frequency of abuse were predictors of the level of involvement in gang activity. These findings imply that social workers need to raise awareness about the harmful effects of child abuse and neglect, especially, regarding child gang involvement.