KENYA INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AND COUNSELLING

STUDIES

SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN

TEENAGERS AND THEIR PARENTS IN EMBAKASI EAST SUB COUNTY, NAIROBI
COUNTY.

BY

IRENE KING'ORI.

A RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF HIGHER DIPLOMA IN COUNSELING
PYSCHOLOGY

NAIROBI - KENYA

2018

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Contents
DECLARATION.........................................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 1................................................................................................................................................4
1.1 Background to the study....................................................................................................................4
1.2 Statement of the problem...................................................................................................................5
1.3 Main Objective..................................................................................................................................6
1.4 Specific objectives.............................................................................................................................6
1.5 Research questions............................................................................................................................6
1.6 Purpose/ Justification of the study.....................................................................................................7
1.7 Scope of the Study.............................................................................................................................7
CHAPTER 2................................................................................................................................................8
Literature review.........................................................................................................................................8
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................8
CHAPTER THREE...................................................................................................................................13
Research Methodology..............................................................................................................................13
3.1 Research Design..............................................................................................................................13
3.2 Target Population............................................................................................................................13
3.3 Sampling Techniques and Sample size............................................................................................13
3.4 Data Collection Instruments............................................................................................................14
3.5 Data Collection Methods and Techniques.......................................................................................14
3.6 Data Analysis...................................................................................................................................14
Bibliography..............................................................................................................................................15

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DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this research project is my own work achieved through scientific work and
personal reading and has not been presented in any other institution of higher learning;

Student: Irene Kingori.

Signature ………………………………………… Date ……………….

Supervisor:

Signature …………………………….................. Date …………………

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 CHAPTER 1

1.0 Introduction

This chapter introduces the background of the study, articulates the background of the study,
statement of the problem, the broad and specific objectives, the research questions, the scope of
the study, the purpose and justification of the study.

1.1 Background to the study

The quality of parent-child relationships shows considerable stability over time. Some
dimensions of parenting are important in children’s lives irrespective of age, especially whether
relationships are warm and supportive or marked by conflict [ CITATION Rut16 \l 1033 ]. Worldwide
the adolescent face a lot of challenges during their transition to adulthood, these is characterized
by rebellious behaviour which often contributes to disconnect between them and their
families[ CITATION Jul17 \l 1033 ]. In many cases it is reported that young people who disconnect
with their parents are likely to get involved in maladjusted behaviour which has contributed to
both negative economic and social impact in the society[ CITATION The17 \l 1033 ].

Generally Policy, practice and research on parenting have made simplistic assumptions about
parenting in black and minority ethnic communities [ CITATION You13 \l 1033 ]. Stereotyped
misunderstandings about ‘tradition’ and ‘culture’ have contributed to failures to protect children
from deviant behavior[ CITATION THE11 \l 1033 ] teens most in need of family support services are
often the least likely to access them. Evidence suggests that engagement can be improved by
parental training which is limited for African countries.

In Africa the cultural perspective of parenting have contributed a lot to disconnect [ CITATION
Egg99 \l 1033 ] . In most African families’ lack of warm, authoritative and responsive parenting
which is usually crucial in building resilience has contributed to rebellious behaviour among the
teenagers[ CITATION Jul17 \l 1033 ]. It has been argued that parents who develop open,
participative communication, problem-centered coping, confidence and flexibility tend to

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manage stress well and help their teenagers to cop up well during their transition [ CITATION Chu13
\l 1033 ].

Most studies in Africa has shown that both parents relationship has an effect on their
teens[ CITATION Mwi06 \l 1033 ] . Young children’s relationships with their mothers typically affect
their development more than father-child relationships [ CITATION Rut16 \l 1033 ]. But teenagers’
relationships with their fathers appear especially important to their development and
achievement in school[ CITATION Chu13 \l 1033 ]. Children’s perspectives show that what young
people ‘think’ is not necessarily what parents ‘think they think’. Parents tend to underestimate
their own influence, but are also prone to take insufficient account of children’s feelings at times
of emotional stress.

In Kenya studies have shown that there is no clear-cut, causal link between poverty and
parenting. However, poverty can contribute to parental stress, depression and irritability leading
to disrupted parenting and to poorer long-term outcomes for children [ CITATION Oin02 \l 1033 ].
Kenya’s parents also lack parental skills which has in turn contributed to misunderstanding
among them and their children[ CITATION Pia96 \l 1033 ]. Studies on early marriage, pregnancy,
school dropout, drug abuse have been cited to be as a result of poor parenting in Kenya this has
clearly indicated that due to age gap the parents in Kenya has little knowledge in understanding
their teenagers[ CITATION The17 \l 1033 ]. This study is therefore set to examine the socio-cultural
factors contributing to the prevalence of teenagers disconnect with their parents in Embakasi
East Sub County Nairobi County

1.2 Statement of the problem

The expectation of every parent and the society at large is that children should grow up in
obedience and compliance with the societal norms so that they become mature, reliable and
responsible citizens. The current trend indicates that teenagers have defied the societal norms and
parental guidance as a result there are many negative consequences like early pregnancies among
teenage girls, drug addiction, school drop outs, involvement in petty crime, infection with
sexually transmitted diseases including HIV among other negative consequences. This is
attributed to the broken relationship between the teenagers and their parents. This study is

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therefore set to examine the socio-cultural factors contributing to the prevalence of teenagers
disconnect with their parents in Embakasi East Sub County Nairobi County

1.3 Main Objective

The general objective of this study is to unravel the socio-cultural factors contributing to the
prevalence of teenagers disconnect with their parents in Embakasi East Sub County Nairobi
County

1.4 Specific objectives

2. To explore the influence of parenting styles on the relationship between parents and their
teenagers in Embakasi East Sub County.
3. To establish parent preparedness in parenting children at different development stages in
Embakasi East Sub County.
4. To determine the social implications of disconnect between parents and their teenagers in
Embakasi East Sub- County.
5. To determine the cultural implications of disconnect between parents and their teenagers
in Embakasi East Sub- County.

1.5 Research questions

2. How does parenting style influence the relationship between parents and their teenage
children in Embakasi East Sub- County?
3. Does parent preparedness in different developmental stages influence the relationship
between parents and their teenagers in Embakasi East County?
4. What are the social implications of the disconnect between parents and their teenagers in
Embakasi East Sub-County?
5. What are the cultural implications of the disconnect between parents and their teenagers
in Embakasi East Sub-County?

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1.6 Purpose/ Justification of the study

This study mainly focuses on the socio-cultural factors contributing to the prevalence of
teenagers disconnect with their parents in Embakasi East Sub County Nairobi County. This study
will unravel the factors as well as suggest practical solutions regarding the identified issues. This
will help to improve service delivery among those working with children and youths. The family
institution will also benefit from study as this will enhance knowledge and understanding about
the teenage children.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study will be limited to Nairobi area. Nairobi is a metropolitan city which has diverse
people from different walks of life. Due to the availability of respondents and also to give the
researcher a amble time to conduct the research as the researcher also reside in Nairobi. This will
also save the researcher from traveling cost.

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 CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction

This chapter reviews, and provides relevant literature about the problem under study obtained
from relevant literature published by accredited scholars and researchers. It explores the
influence of parenting styles on the relationship between parents and their teenagers, parent
preparedness in different developmental stages influence the relationship between parents and
their teenagers and strategies to reduce child disconnection from their parents.

2.1 The influence of parenting styles on the relationship between parents and their
teenagers

Policy-makers and commentators often blame ‘bad parenting’ for children’s and young people’s
troublesome behaviour[ CITATION Mwi06 \l 1033 ]. Several studies on the influence of parenting,
especially the parent-child relationships [ CITATION Jul17 \l 1033 ] has been postulated to have an
impact on the child development. The studies considers parents’ contributions to children’s and
to their own resilience[ CITATION Pia96 \l 1033 ] when good outcomes come about for individuals
or families in the face of adversity, or where problems would normally be expected. Resilience-
based practice involves looking for strengths and opportunities to build on, rather than for
problems and deficits to remedy or treat[ CITATION Jul17 \l 1033 ].

Learning skills and educational achievement. Children’s reading ability is associated with the
reading environment around them and there is evidence that parental involvement with school is
associated with achievement help a lot to reduce conflict between children and their
parents[ CITATION You13 \l 1033 ]. Parental Social competence (most commonly studied within
peer relationships). Parental warmth, lack of conflict, and control and monitoring appear to play
an important role in developing children’s social skills[ CITATION Rut16 \l 1033 ] this has helped
greatly in handling teenagers.

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Parents are advice not to be aggressive and value their children’s view as they guide
them[ CITATION Mwi06 \l 1033 ]. Children’s own views of themselves including their sense of self-
worth. If this is not observed studies shows that children become Aggressive ‘externalizing’
behaviour and developed delinquency[ CITATION Chu13 \l 1033 ] . The more extreme the
circumstances for parents, the worse the outcomes for children and likelihood of psychological
disturbance. Depression, anxiety and other ‘internalizing’ problems. Including complaints where
physical symptoms are related to emotional stress and social withdrawal [ CITATION The17 \l
1033 ]. High-risk health behaviour. Such as smoking, illicit drug use, alcohol use, sexually risky
behaviour and, in some studies, obesity.

In addition, in most circumstances, there is considerable stability in the quality of family

relationships over time, especially when there is a secure bond of attachment between children
and their parents[ CITATION Jul17 \l 1033 ] .The quality of parent-child relationships appears to
remain influential into adulthood for social and behavioral outcomes. The bad perceptions can be
hereditary hence influencing the feature parenting[ CITATION Chu13 \l 1033 ]. Some dimensions of
parent-child relationships appear important in children’s lives irrespective of age, notably
whether they are warm and supportive or marked by conflict and hostility [ CITATION Mwi06 \l
1033 ]. Other dimensions are thought to alter in structure and function during children’s
development. One of the most important may be monitoring and control [ CITATION The17 \l
1033 ].Some associations between the quality of family relationships and children’s well-being
appear to differ across sub-populations and cultures including those in relation to physical
discipline. Genetic factors are an important influence on individual differences in parent-child
relationships.[ CITATION Jul17 \l 1033 ] The links between the quality of parent-child relationships
and children’s psychological adjustment are mediated, in part, by genetic influences

In recent years the government has introduced a number of policy papers aimed at transforming
the children's social care system (Julie & Susannah, 2017). Number of organization has develop
ways to protect and care for the children. In Kenya, the Child Welfare Society has been in the
affront for children protections together with. However, many children are still lucking basic
needs like adequate food, water shelter, warmth, protection and health care (Diane, 2006). They
also need their care to be attentive, dependable and kind. Children are neglected if these essential

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needs the things they need to develop and grow are persistently not met. (Human Rights Council,
2009).

2.2 Parent preparedness in different developmental stages influence the relationship

between parents and their teenagers

In some school of thoughts Child neglect is the continued failure to provide a child with
necessary care and protection including adequate shelter, food, clothing, medical care, lack of
appropriate supervision, especially for young children, for extended periods of time is also
considered child neglect (Mwiti, 2006). Signs of possible neglect include: appears poorly
nourished or inadequately clothed; appears consistently tired or restless; inconsistent attendance
at school; lack of good hygiene, or an obsession with cleanliness; is regularly left alone in
dangerous situations, or over long periods of time; exhibits evidence that medical needs are not
being met; unable to relate well to adults or has trouble forming close friendships. According to
cant well & Rosenberg, (1990) defined four types of neglect physical, educational, emotional and
medical.

Crumps Physical neglect accounts for the majority of cases of maltreatment. Physical neglect
generally involves the parent or caregiver not providing the child with basic necessities (e.g.,
adequate food, clothing and shelter (Diane, 2006). Failure or refusal to provide these necessities
endangers the child’s physical health, well-being, psychological growth and development.
Physical neglect also includes child abandonment, inadequate supervision, rejection of a child
leading to expulsion from the home and failure to adequately provide for the child’s safety and
physical and emotional needs (Julie & Susannah, 2017). Physical neglect can severely impact a
child’s development by causing failure to thrive; malnutrition; serious illness; physical harm in
form of cuts, bruises, burns or other injuries due to the lack of supervision; and a lifetime of low
self- esteem (Mwiti, 2006).

Educational neglect involves the failure of a parent or caregiver to enroll a child of mandatory
school age in school or provide appropriate home schooling or needed special educational
training, thus allowing the child or youth to engage in chronic truancy (Human Rights Council,
2009). Educational neglect can lead to the child failing to acquire basic life skills, dropping out

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school or continually displaying disruptive behaviour. Educational neglect can pose a serious
threat to the child’s emotional well-being, physical health or normal psychological growth and
development, particularly when the child has special educational needs that are not met (Diane,
2006).

Emotional neglect includes actions such as engaging in chronic or extreme spousal abuse in the
child’s presence, allowing a child to use drugs or alcohol, refusing or failing to provide needed
psychological care, constantly belittling the child and withholding affection. (Chatterji, Murray,
London, & Anglewicz, 2004) Parental behaviour considered to be emotional child maltreatment
include: ignoring (consistent failure to respond to the child’s need for stimulation, nurturance,
encouragement and protection

2.3 Strategies to reduce child disconnect

Prevention efforts should ultimately reduce risk factors and increase the factors that buffer
against risk. In addition, prevention should address all levels that influence child maltreatment:
individual, relationship, community, and society. Effective prevention strategies are necessary to
promote awareness about child maltreatment and to foster commitment to social change.
Interventions with impact on the child neglect include (The National Council for Children’s
Services, 2011).

Child-Parent Centers (CPCs) provide comprehensive educational and family support to

economically disadvantaged children and their parents. The program requires parental
participation and emphasizes a child- cantered, individualized approach to social and cognitive
development. In a matched control trial, children participating in these centers had a 52 percent
reduction in child maltreatment, (Reynolds and Robertson, 2003). Nurse- family partnership is a
nurse home visitation program for low-income, first-time parents and their children beginning
prenatally and continuing up to the child’s second birthday. The program encourages healthy
behaviour during and after pregnancy, teaches appropriate parenting skills, and links parents to
community services. A randomized controlled trial documented a 48 percent in child
maltreatment at the 15-year follow-up (Olds et al., 1997).

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Triple P is a multi-level system of parenting interventions based on need usually delivered
through health care. In the U.S. Triple P system trial, funded by the CDC, researchers found a
28% reduction in substantiated abuse cases, a 44% reduction in child out-of-home placements,
and 35% reduction in hospitalization interventions were implemented (Prinz et al., 2009).

Fortunately, there are early intervention programs and treatments for child neglect. In addition to
individual, family, group counselling and social support services, behavioral skills training
programs exist to eliminate problematic behaviour and teach parents “appropriate” behaviour.
Programs, such as Triple P (parenting program), a positive parenting program, works with
parents whose children have discernable problems. It is a multi-level, parenting and family
(Diane, 2006) the appropriate resources, it could help decrease the amount of child neglect cases.

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 CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction

This section articulates the research design, the target population, the sampling techniques and
sample size, the data collection instruments, the data collection methods and techniques and
finally data analysis methods.

3.1 Research Design

The study will employed exploratory design which involved review of literature relevant to the
study, and allowed the use of qualitative and quantitative methods. The design was deemed
relevant to this study because it allowed the researcher to do a highly qualitative study due to the
nature of the study respondents.

3.2 Target Population

The study population will be driven from Embakasi East Sub County Nairobi County. An
estimated total of 100 respondents will be sampled for this study. Among these will be thirty
(30) mothers, thirty (30) fathers forty (40) teenagers who are out of school both males and
females.

3.3 Sampling Techniques and Sample size

The researcher will use both purposive and simple random sampling to sample 100 respondents.
These were mothers from Embakasi. Forty (40) teenagers both males and females will be
selected as respondents through simple random sampling. From household, thirty (30) fathers
and (30) mothers will be selected using simple random sampling.

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3.4 Data Collection Instruments

Both primary and secondary data will be used in the study. Due to the sensitivities of the study,
the researcher will apply semi structured interviews, FGDs, In-depth interviews and
questionnaires. These instruments will allow the researcher to connect with the respondents at
personal level and get detailed information. The researcher will use the Kiswahili language
which is widely spoken in Embakasi East Sub County. It should be noted that a significant
number of the adult population are not well versed in English

3.5 Data Collection Methods and Techniques

Both open and closed ended questions will be used to get the opinions and enhance objectivity of
the respondents. The semi structured interviews will give the respondents more time to give their
opinions while at the same time saving the researcher’s time. In-depth interview schedules will
be used as an exploratory tool to validate the unexpected results revealed from the structured
interviews. In-depth Interviews with key informants and observation helped the researcher to
understand factors that influence disconnect in the area. The researchers will use two sets of
questionnaires and interview guide for youths and adults due to the fact that both teenage have
different views of disconnect.

3.6 Data Analysis

The researcher will employ analytical procedures of different types such as qualitative,
quantitative data analysis methods. For the qualitative data, analysis will be done along several
stages. After coding had been done and themes identified, the researcher will employ descriptive,
analytical and interpretive approach in interpretation of data. All the returned questionnaires and
written answers on interviews will checked to ensure that they are complete, accurate and
uniform before analysis is done. The use of quantitative data analysis techniques was employed
to analyze quantitative data which helped to generate frequencies and percentages these were
presented using tables.

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15
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