Relationship between Adolescents’ Perceptions of Their Parents’ Behaviours and Youths’ Non-Illegal and Minor- Illegal Delinquency in Nairobi Secondary Schools, Kenya

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between adolescents’ perceptions of parental behaviours and their involvement in non- illegal and minor-illegal delinquency in selected secondary schools, in N airobi County of Kenya. The study was informed by Parenting models theory, Social Control T heory and Ego identity versus Role confusion theory. A co relational survey design was employed and the participants comprised 219 females and 191 ma le students selected by us e of stratified and simple random sampling methods. Data was collected using questionnaires and a behaviour checklist. Data was analyzed using parametric correlation statistics. The study revealed that, parental supportiveness was not related to adolescents’ non-illegal and minor-illegal delinquent behaviours. That is, the adolescents who perceived excessive parental monitoring comprised the highest percentage of those who were involved in occasional non-illegal (77.6%) and occasional minor-illegal (51.7%) delinquent behaviours. The highest percentage of the persistent non-illegal (17.5%) and persistent minor-illegal (7.7%) delinquent behaviours were those who perceived excessive parental monitoring. The lowest percentage of the adolescents who were involved in occasional non-illegal (46.2%) and persistent non-illegal (7.7%) behaviours were those who perceived low parental monitoring. The results also revealed a significant positive relationship between adolescents’ perceptions of parental monitoring and non-illegal, and substance abuse delinquent behaviours. The study recommended psychosocial training for parents to enhance effective parenting. Keywords: relationship, perceptions, supportiveness, monitoring, adolescents’, perceptions, parents, non-illegal, minor- illegal, delinquency, secondary schools.