Examining the Effects of Parenting Styles on the Psychological Wellbeing of Young Adults: Case of Pcea Ongata Rongai,Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

This study examined the effects of parenting styles on the psychological well-being of young adults within the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County, Kenya. Guided by Erikson’s psychosocial development, Baumrind’s parenting style, and social learning theories, the research identified predominant parenting styles, determined their relationship with psychological well-being, and explored the influence of religious and cultural factors. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 169 young adults, with a 87% response rate (N = 147). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a one-way ANOVA. Findings revealed the authoritarian style was most prevalent (57.8%), followed by authoritative (33.3%), reflecting enduring African and Christian values emphasizing discipline and obedience. Although authoritarian parenting was dominant, young adults from authoritative backgrounds reported marginally higher psychological well-being (M = 2.43, SD = 0.61) than those from authoritarian (M = 2.19, SD = 0.63) or permissive (M = 2.18, SD = 0.60) backgrounds, suggesting that warmth and balanced control contribute to better mental health. Religious and cultural factors were found to strongly influence parenting approaches, instilling moral discipline but sometimes at the cost of emotional openness. While most young adults perceived themselves as independent decision-makers (62.6%), only 32.7% felt confident in managing stress, indicating that emotional resilience was less nurtured than cognitive independence. The study concludes that parenting styles, religious beliefs, and cultural norms collectively shape well-being. It recommends faith-based parenting programs and policy interventions that integrate moral discipline with emotional support to foster holistic youth development in similar contexts.