Perceived Parental Acceptance-Rejection and Personality Dispositions Among Adolescents in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria

Parental acceptance and rejection during childhood have enduring effects on personality development, and the Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection Theory provides a cross-culturally validated framework for understanding how perceived parental warmth or hostility shapes personality dispositions across cultural contexts. This study examines the relationship between perceived parental acceptance-rejection and personality dispositions among adolescents in Kebbi State. A cross-sectional survey is applied to 260 secondary school students aged 13 to 18 years from five schools in Birnin Kebbi and Argungu local government areas, selected through purposive sampling. The Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (child version) and the Personality Assessment Questionnaire, both adapted for the Nigerian context, are administered in Hausa. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression are computed in SPSS. Literature from North West Nigerian adolescent development research identifies perceived maternal rejection as more strongly associated with negative personality outcomes than paternal rejection, and that insecurity, emotional unresponsiveness, and hostility as the strongest predicted personality traits among rejected adolescents. Rohner's Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection Theory provides the primary theoretical framework. Findings will contribute to family counselling practice and parenting education initiatives in Kebbi State. Keywords: parental acceptance-rejection, personality, adolescents, Kebbi State, North West Nigeria.