The Influence of Authoritative Parenting Style on Adolescents' Psychosocial Adjustment in Kivumbini Ward of Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

Parents employ different styles in their efforts to ensure health and safety of their children; they prepare them for adults' life and transmit appropriate cultural values. Parenting styles are broadly classified as authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and neglectful. This study examined the influence of authoritative parenting style on the psychosocial adjustments of adolescents in public primary schools in Kivumbini Ward of Nakuru East Sub County, Kenya. The study was informed by Family Systems and Attachment theories. This was a correlational study, which engaged 161 respondents selected through systematic random sampling. Collection of primary data was done through structured questionnaires. The study used descriptive and inferential statistics for data analysis. The results of the study were presented in Tables and Figures for ease of comprehension. Data analysis was aided by SPSS (Version 25). This study found that open communication as feature of authoritative parenting style was effective in promoting responsible use of drugs, embracing tolerance and cultivation of high self-esteem. Moreover, placement of reasonable demands as a core characteristic authoritative parenting style was most effective in the prevention of aggressive behaviour in adolescents, nurturing high self-esteem and self-control skills. Furthermore, parental affection was most influential in nurturing appropriate sexual behaviour, tolerance and self-control in adolescents. The study also found that adolescents from families that had participatory decision-making structures exhibited high levels of tolerance and self-control Adolescents from families that had participatory decision-making structures exhibited high levels of tolerance and self-control. The existence of standard behaviour in the families undermined the promotion of appropriate values in drugs and substance abuse, sexual behaviour and tolerance in adolescents. This study recommends that parents should lay structures in the family that encourage frank and open parent-children communication and participatory decision making.