Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Jana Price-Sharps

Abstract

The Anglophone crisis, in which marginalization of the English-speaking regions in Cameroon began in October 2016 and has become one of the most prominent social problems in the nation’s history. It has led to loss of lives, infrastructure damage, displacement of families, incidents of mass violence, unemployment, and a rise in criminal activity in the Anglophone regions. Grounded in the phenomenological approach and guided by the general strain theory (GST), this qualitative inquiry explored the protective factors that have reduced or prevented criminal activity for college students in the Anglophone regions during the crisis. Semi structure interviewing guided participant responses. Criterion sampling facilitated identifying eight participants, and participant inclusion was based on age, education status, geographical location, and criminal history. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis strategy guided data analysis. The results showed that personal and family values, religion and Christianity, education and awareness, employment opportunities, family support, counseling and mentorship, and legal consequences have served as protective factors preventing college-aged criminal activity. Findings also suggest that resources such as public sensitization and government subsidies would serve as mitigating factors for college-aged criminal activity. The findings may help public safety, educational organizations, and forensic psychology professionals develop positive social change through informed strategies for preventing and decreasing rates of college-aged illegal activity.

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