Mothers' Socioeconomic Characteristics and Child Behavior

Luqman Bisiriyu, Obafemi Awolowo University
Sulaimon Adedokun, Obafemi Awolowo University
Ayotunde Titilayo, Obafemi Awolowo University

It is a common belief that mothers’ characteristics play an important role in determining child’s behavior. Hence, how close a mother is to the child, the type of job the mother engages in and mothers’ educational attainment influence attitude of children. Using the data obtained from the Boys’ Remand Home and Girls’ Remand Home in Lagos, Nigeria, this paper examines the effect of mothers’ socioeconomic characteristics on child’s behavior. Results show that there are more males involved in bad behavior than females. There is a significant relationship between mothers’ education and child’s behavior. The type of house parents live also influences the child’s behavior. Mothers’ occupation affects time spent with children. Friends and neighbors also exercise some influence on children’s behavior. More than half of the children posit that they would not have engaged in bad behavior if their mothers had spent quality time with them.