Global Journal of Health Science; Vol. 11, No. 8; 2019 ISSN 1916-9736 E-ISSN 1916-9744 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 113 Family Leadership Styles and Deviant Behaviours of Primary School Pupils in Enugu State, Nigeria Eucharia Nchedo Aye 1 , Innocent Kama 1 , Theresa Olunwa Oforka 1 , Celestine Okwudili Eze 1 , Nkiru Christiana Ohia 1 , Ngozi Eucharia Eze 1 , Julia Amobi Onumonu 1 , Ngozi Hope Chinweuba 1 & Immaculata Nwakaego Akaneme 1 1 Department of Educational Foundations, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria Correspondence: Immaculata Nwakaego Akaneme, Department of Educational Foundations, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, P.M.B.410001, Enugu State, Nigeria. E-mail: immaculata.akaneme@unn.edu.ng Received: May 12, 2019 Accepted: June15, 2019 Online Published: June 27, 2019 doi:10.5539/gjhs.v11n8p113 URL: https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v11n8p113 Abstract Objective: This study examined family leadership styles as determinants of deviant behaviours among primary school pupils in Enugu State, Nigeria. Methods: The study adopted a correlational research design. A total of 821 pupils were drawn as the sample for the study. A questionnaire was used as an instrument for the study. Results: The major findings of the study revealed that primary school pupils exhibited 12 out of 15 types of deviant behaviours such as indulging in exam malpractice, not devoted to studies, Bullying weaker pupils, fighting among pupils, lateness to school, and keeping bad friends among others as identified. It also showed that the authoritarian family leadership style had a significant relationship with primary school pupils’ deviant behaviour. Again it was discovered that the authoritative family leadership style also called assertive, democratic or balance family leadership style had a significant relationship with pupils’ deviant behaviours negatively. Moreover, permissive family leadership style had also a significant relationship with primary school pupils’ deviant behaviours. The result also indicated that neglectful family leadership style had a significant relationship with primary school pupils’ deviant behaviours. Furthermore, the result showed that family size had a significant influence on deviant behaviours exhibited by primary school pupils in Enugu state. Conclusion: Rewarding and praising children who have good behaviours and assigning models to role-play by pupils with deviant behaviours may help to curb deviant behaviours among primary school pupils. Keywords: family, family leadership styles, deviant behaviours, primaryschool, pupils 1. Introduction The family has been universally perceived as a small but powerful unit and the oldest institution in the history of human existence that helps in the character formation of the child and moulding of the behaviour of the individual in the society. This is because family is the fundamental and basic social unit for human development and also the primary agent for the socialization of children. According to Macionis (2007) family is a social institution found in all societies that unite people in cooperative groups to care for one another including children. A family is a social unit made up of father, mother, children and blood relations (Okonkwo, 2005). Similarly, a family is a unit of people tied by bonds of marriage, birth or adoption, and do have in most cases a common abode. The man and woman as the first members of the family have obligations towards the younger members as they arrive and that involves inculcating social norms such as love, care, cooperation and discipline among her members. When families fail in these basic functions, a faulty foundation is laid which will result in faulty adult behaviours such as corruption and all kinds of indiscipline. In the context of this study, Family can also be seen as a kinship group of two or more persons who live in the same household and are related by marriage or adoption. The family also performs certain functions for its sustainability and wellbeing. The family performs many functions such as reproduction or procreation, protection and care of young ones, educational functions and provision of shelter (Sunil, 2011). Reproduction or procreation is an essential function which the family performs in all societies. The family along with regulating the sexual behaviour in relation to