Influence of Stay-at-Home Mothers on Their Adolescents’ Moral Behavior: A Case of Mamlaka Hill Chapel, Nairobi, Kenya.

Abstract

Adolescence marks an important transition in which young people develop and refine their sense of right and wrong while at the same time navigating peer pressure, digital influences, and rapidly shifting social expectations. During this period, lapses in judgment can surface, such as dishonesty, disrespect, or risky behavior, yet the same years also offer an opportunity for cultivating empathy, honesty, self-discipline, and responsibility. Parental involvement plays an important role in shaping children's moral behavior, and stay-at-home mothers who are consistently present have a unique influence on guiding this moral formation. This study explored the influence of stay-at-home mothers on adolescents' moral behavior in Mamlaka Hill Chapel, Nairobi, Kenya. Three objectives guided the study: to examine the strategies of parental involvement adopted by stay-at-home mothers; to analyze the moral behaviors exhibited by adolescents based on their stay-at-home mothers' involvement; and to explore how stay-at-home mothers’ involvement influenced the moral behavior of their adolescents. The study was grounded in Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and Lawrence Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory. It also employed a qualitative design and phenomenological approach to showcase the lived experiences of stay-at-home mothers and their adolescents. The population consisted of stay-at-home mothers at Mamlaka Hill Chapel and their adolescents aged 10 to 19 years. Purposive sampling was employed to select participants who fell under the study’s criteria and had rich, lived experiences relevant to the study. Primary data was collected using in-depth interviews for mothers and focus group discussions for adolescents. The data was analyzed using Thematic Analysis. The study found that stay-at-home mothers significantly shape adolescents’ moral behavior through faith-based guidance, open communication, consistent supervision, and emotional support. Adolescents under their care demonstrated positive moral traits such as respect, empathy, and responsibility, while still facing challenges like peer pressure, academic dishonesty, and digital risks. Maternal involvement proved especially influential during critical decision-making moments, leaving a lasting imprint on adolescents’ moral reasoning and behavior. The study is beneficial to parents in providing them with knowledge on the influence of their parenting on adolescents' moral reasoning and decision-making, faith-based institutions in developing parenting programs, policymakers in formulating family policies and parenting programs, and it also contributes to academic literature on the development of moral behavior in adolescents. Therefore, the study recommends enhancing parental involvement in adolescents, addressing their strengths and struggles. It emphasizes the importance of maximizing maternal influence in decision-making processes and calls on policymakers and community leaders to actively support mothers in providing quality parenting. Lastly, the study highlights the need to prioritize family-centered policies that strengthen family participation in adolescent development.