International Journal of Management, Social Sciences, Peace and Conflict Studies (IJMSSPCS), Vol.7 No.1 March, 2024; p.g. 105 - 116; ISSN: 2682-6135 YOUTH CULTURE AS A CORRELATE OF ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN SOUTH-EAST… 105 YOUTH CULTURE AS A CORRELATE OF ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN SOUTH-EAST, NIGERIA UGWU, JUDE CHIGOZIE jude.ugwu@alvanikoku.edu.ng & AZUKAEGO ELUEMUNO (Ph.D) azukaego.eluemuno@alvanikoku.edu.ng & IPEM JOSEPHINE (Ph.D) josephine.ipem@alvanikoku.edu.ng DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY/G&C ALVAN IKOKU UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, OWERRI & NGWOKE, DOMINIC U. (Ph.D) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA ABSTRACT This study sought to investigate whether Youth Culture correlates with academic engagement of undergraduate students in South-East, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlation survey research design. The population of the study comprised 18, 200 male and female undergraduates of public and private universities in South-East, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling techniques were adopted to select a sample of 755 respondents for the study. The study was guided by 2 research questions and 2 hypotheses. Two instruments: Youth Culture Scale (YCS), and Undergraduates Academic Engagement Scale (UAES), were used for Data collection. The instruments were validated by five experts. Data were analyzed using Regression Coefficient and PROCESS MACRO t- test through SPSS version 25.0.Hypothesis one was tested using Regression ANOVA while hypothesis two was tested using PROCESS MACRO t-test at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that: there was a significant relationship between youth culture (internet addiction) and academic engagement of undergraduate students; the moderating influence of gender on the correlation between youth culture and academic engagement of undergraduate students was not significant. Based on the findings, it was recommended that: undergraduate students should be sensitized on the dangers associated with negative youth cultural practices such as internet addiction; they should be encouraged to engage or participate actively in academic activities, so as to promote high academic performance/achievement; lecturers should focus more on the students’ behaviours and attitudes towards teaching and learning, rather than relying only on the course contents. Keywords: Youth Culture (internet addiction), Academic Engagement, Undergraduate Students, Gender.