The Influence of Parenting Styles on Adolescent Resilience: A Case of Karura Community Chapel, Westlands Sub–County, Nairobi, Kenya.

Abstract

This investigated the influence of parenting styles on adolescent resilience amongst adolescents at Karura Community Chapel, Westlands Sub-County, Nairobi, Kenya. The study aimed to shed light on how the different approaches to parenting impact on adolescent resilience. Its objectives were to: identify the parenting styles employed by parents at Karura Community Chapel on their adolescent children, assess the resilience of the adolescents and analyse the relationship between the parenting styles and adolescent resilience. Pillar Theory and Social Ecological Theory of Resilience formed the theoretical basis of the study. The study utilized a descriptive survey design. The study population was adolescents attending Karura Community Chapel. The sample consisted of one hundred, 13–19-year-old adolescents and ten key informants (youth workers and parents). Mixed methods were used for data collection. Buri’s Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ)-short version, was used to measure parenting styles while Davidson’s Resilience Scale measured adolescents’ resilience. Additionally, Key Informant Interview (KII) guides were used to collect qualitative data. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 27 while qualitative data was presented in verbatim form. Findings revealed that 54, parents employed the authoritative parenting style, 21, the authoritarian parenting style, 4, the permissive/indulgent parenting style and 3 the neglectful/uninvolved parenting style. 63 adolescents exhibited high resilience while 19 exhibited moderate resilience. There was a significant positive association (r=.436, p<.01) between the authoritative parenting style and adolescent resilience while there was no significant relationship with the authoritarian, permissive and neglectful parenting styles. The study recommends consistent parenting workshops so as to create and sustain awareness on the influence of parenting styles on child development.