| dc.description.sponsorship | Parenting plays a vital role in shaping the behavioural outcomes of learners. Different parents employ various styles to raise children, which may in turn influence their behavioural traits throughout development. Deviant behaviours such as examination malpractice, alcoholism, substance abuse, and sexual deviance have become common among university students. Research has explored parenting styles and their impact on
various variables; however, limited research has been done on the link between parenting styles and deviant behaviours among university students. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the relationship between parenting styles and deviant behaviours among students in public universities in the Mt. Kenya East Region, Kenya. The research employed a correlational descriptive research design. Social Cognitive Theory by Albert Bandura and the Parenting Styles theory by Diana et al. guided this study. The target population comprised 28, 250 university students, with an accessible population of 6,000 students. A sample of 375 students was selected through simple random sampling. Additionally, the Dean of Students and a students’ counsellor from each university were purposively selected to participate in the study. Data collection involved a standardised modified questionnaire on parenting styles and deviant behaviours, alongside interview schedules for the Dean of Students and the students’ counsellor. A pilot study was conducted in two universities in Mt. Kenya West Region. The validity of the instruments was confirmed by supervisors and experts from the
Department of Education at Tharaka University. Reliability was determined using Cronbach' s Alpha, which yielded a coefficient of α = 0. 749, deemed reliable. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analysed. Quantitative data was examined using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and percentages) and inferential statistics (T- test and multiple linear regression). Qualitative data was
analysed through thematic analysis. Data analysis was conducted with SPSS version 29, with a significance level of 0. 05. The study found out that there is no relationship between parenting styles and deviant behaviours among university students in Mt Kenya East Region Kenya. The findings may help bring awareness among parents regarding various parenting styles and their effects. They may also encourage
psychologists to develop programmes advising parents on effective parenting. Furthermore, these results could prompt young people to seek professional help if they recognise how their behaviour is influenced by their upbringing. University policy makers might benefit by designing policies that promote positive behaviour among students. Ultimately, the study's results will contribute to the existing literature on parenting styles and deviant behaviours among university students. | en_US |
