Relationship Between Parenting Styles and Adult Criminal Behaviour: A Case of Selected Prisons in Nairobi County Kenya

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between parenting styles and adult criminal behaviour among selected prisons in Nairobi County, Kenya. In Kenya, there have been interventions like youth support, community policing, economic empowerment programs but bottom line still remains that if the foundation of the respondents is compromised at family level parenting, then the programs are unsustainable. The purpose was to examine the correlation between parenting styles and adult criminal behaviour. The objectives of this study were to identify the types of parenting styles experienced by adult inmates, determine the different types of adult criminal behaviours committed by inmates, establish the relationship between the different parenting styles and adult criminal behaviour and identify the types of adult criminal behaviour that are influenced by the different parenting styles among adult inmates. The study was anchored on Attachment Theory, Social Learning Theory and Ecological Systems Theory. It employed a descriptive, cross-sectional approach and the Parenting Style Dimensional Questionnaire (PSDQ) used to collect qualitative data to assess their perceptions of their parents' parenting styles. This study was conducted by sampling 103 respondents across the selected prisons. The generated data was coded and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25.0. The findings indicated that the leading criminal behevior was theft at 39%, Property crimes at 2.9%, substance abuse crimes at 23.8% and Violent crimes at 34.3%. 65.7% of the inmates had wished at least once that their parents could have been more involved in their life events. The inmates majorly resonated with the authoritarian, permissive and neglectful styles and very few actually experienced authoritative styles of parenting. Inmates exhibiting property criminal behaviors were linked to neglectful parenting, where parents showed little care for their children’s lives. Those with substance abuse issues often had permissive parents who discussed hurtful decisions, allowed freedom, provided few expectations, believed in minimal restrictions, and rarely assigned household duties. Violent behaviors were associated with a mix of permissive and authoritarian styles, characterized by parental expectations for immediate compliance, upset at disagreement, and imposed consequences for not meeting behavior standards. Theft related criminal behaviors were also linked to permissive parenting with a lack of guidelines. It is recommended that parents actively engage with their children and promote open communication, should be keen on the activities conducted by their children and be more involved in their lives to prevent them from the problems that arise in the society, assign their children duties while at home to prevent them from being idle that could lead to joining bad companies and be willing to listen to their children's needs and feelings before making decisions that affect them. These practices are linked to positive behavior outcomes even in adulthood.