THE EFFECTS OF PARENTAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND ON ADOLESCENTS' RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS AND THE COUNSELLING IMPLICATION.

Adolescents are fond of engaging in behavioural experimentation which often results in risky sexual behaviours that can expose them to serious health consequences. This study examined the influence of gender and parental socio-economic background on adolescents’ risky sexual behaviours. The study adopted a descriptive survey method in which a sample of two hundred and eighty six in-school adolescents drawn from Abeokuta and Sango- Ota, Ogun State was used. The adolescent sexual risk-taking behaviour scale and socio-economic status scale were used in data collection. Tivo hypotheses were postulated and tested using t-test statiscal method at 0.05 level of significance. Findings showed significant difference between male and female adolescents in their risky sexual behaviour while adolescents from low socio economic background demonstrated higher sexual risk taking behaviour than those from high socio-economic background. The study portends certain implications for counselling with a view of fostering healthy lifestyles among adolescents.