Effect of Parenting Styles on Adolescents’ Identity Styles: A Case of Selected Public Secondary Schools in Westlands Sub-County, Nairobi County, Kenya.
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Date
2024-08-14
Authors
Elizabeth Wangeshi M. Njenga
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Publisher
PAC University
Abstract
Adolescence is a crucial period marked by significant psychological and social development, particularly in identity formation. Berzonsky’s identity model suggests each individual employs different identity styles and each style can have implications on psychological well-being and adjustment. One influential factor in this process is parenting style, which encompasses parental behaviors, attitudes, and strategies in child-rearing. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of authoritative parenting, authoritarian parenting, permissive parenting and parental attachment on adolescents’ identity styles. Baumarind’s theory of parenting styles and Berzonsky’s identity styles model anchored the study. The research was a quantitative study with descriptive data acquired via survey methodology. The sample size was 408 male and female participants, aged between 15 and 19. The data collection instruments used were questionnaires; Perceived Parenting Styles Scale used to measure parenting styles, the Inventory of Parents and Peers Attachment (IPPA) used to measure parental attachment and Identity Styles Inventory (ISI-5) used to measure Identity styles. The mean, standard deviation, and range of scores for all independent and dependent variables were calculated using descriptive statistics. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to measure association between variables, and assumptions of regression analysis was done prior to regression analysis to check for its suitability. Regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between variables. IBM SPSS Version 28 was used to analyse the data. The results indicated that normative (β = 0.220, p = 0.000) and informative (β = 0.096, p = 0.048) identity styles and authoritative parenting styles were positively correlated. The diffuse avoidant identity style was positively and significantly correlated with authoritarian parenting styles (β = 0.144, p = 0.002). Only the diffuse avoidant identity style was considerably enhanced by permissive parenting (β = 0.217, p = 0.000). Parental attachment to normative identity styles (β = -0.128, p = 0.000) and informative identity styles (β = 0.091, p = 0.001) were found to have a positive and significant association. The study implications are that effective parenting styles can be adopted to help adolescents develop and make better and informed decisions. These results could be useful to youth workers, family therapists, parents and caregivers, by providing insight into the psychological processes underlying adolescent decision-making. No harm was inflicted while conducting the research because all ethical guidelines were observed. Participants in the research consented to participate, and confidentiality was upheld.