An examination of the relationship between the parenting style and male youth participation in violence in Gatanga sub county, Murang’a county in Kenya

Abstract

The impact of violent conflicts has been documented as unquantifiable and ruinous. It is evidenced that current judicial approaches in use are counterprod uctive. There is need to look for social approaches in mitigati ng these violent conflicts. This study contributed towards this goal by investigating the relationship between the family environment and secondary school male youth participation in violent conflicts in Gatanga Su b County, Muranga County, Kenya. The study adopted correlation research design. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were utilized. A multistage sampling strategy was used to sample, eleven secondary schools, 33 violent youths, 33 non violent youth s and their 66 parents, 11 (eleven) teacher counselors and 24 selected key informants. The study relied on primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected using fou r instruments; stude nt self report; fami ly self test; teacher counselors unstructure d interview schedule and IDI schedule for the key informants. Data collected was analyzed using the SPSS analytical package . The Pearson’s chi - square ( ᵡ 2 ) was run to a ssess the association between the ide ntified variables and secondary school male youth p articipatio n in violence . The key findings of the study showed that, o n parenting style and youth violence , there is a highly significant association between the paternal and maternal physical presence, how parents treated the male youth’s emotions and male youth participation in violence. The study recommends that g uidance and counseling programs should be organized in the co mmunity to sensitize, educate and empower parents on various parenting issues. ( 239 Words