Influence of Parental Neglect on Delinquent Behavior Among Adolescents in Mukuru Slums, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Many people find adolescence to be a difficult time of transition, and parents frequently find themselves at a loss for how to effectively raise their kids at this time. When it comes to assisting children's growth, parents are incredibly important. The Children’s Society says that poor care by parents is often the cause for adolescents’ risky harmful behaviors with significant impact on their welfare and their mental health. This investigation centered on assessing the impact of parental neglect on delinquent behaviors among adolescents in the Mukuru slums, Nairobi County, Kenya. According to a study of the relevant research, there are several factors that can affect involvement in criminal activity when there is neglect during upbringing. The study's initial goal was to look into how parental neglect affected Mukuru's adolescents’ overt delinquent behavior. The second goal was to assess the impact of parental neglect on covert delinquent behaviour and the third goas was to assess the impact of parental neglect on drug abuse by adolescents. The first hypothesis of the study evaluated the relationship between adolescent neglect and overt delinquent behavior. The second hypothesis assessed the relationship between neglect and covert delinquent behaviors and the third hypothesis assessed the relationship between neglect and abuse of drugs and alcoholism among adolescents in the same slums. The study utilized Purposive and Snowballing sampling procedures, and Structured questionnaires and Focused Group discussions for data collection. Purposive sampling procedure sampled for the Focused group discussions while the intended sample for the purpose of completing questionnaires was obtained using the Snowballing sampling technique. The sample results were extrapolated from the quantitative data using both descriptive and inferential statistics, such as Pearson's correlation and regression. Narratives were used to show qualitative data after it had been examined for emerging patterns. The research discovered that among youths living in Nairobi County's Mukuru slum, a change in neglect would cause a large shift in overt delinquent behavior. (=0.829; p-value=0.000). The research discovered that among young people living in Nairobi County's Mukuru slum, a change in neglect would cause a large shift in hidden delinquent behavior (=0.850; p-value=0.000). The study found that drug misuse among teenagers in the Mukuru slums of Nairobi County would significantly change with a unit change in neglect (=0.179; p-value=0.012). According to the study's findings, drug misuse, overt delinquency, and other forms of delinquent behavior among adolescents in Nairobi County's Mukuru slums are all significantly influenced by neglect. The study established that it is important to urge parents to be present with their kids so that they can watch their behavior. The research suggests that parents should develop better methods of punishment apart from locking children out of the house. There is also a need for parents to ensure that children go to school daily and always account for the whereabouts of their children. The article continues by advising parents to get more active in their childrens’ lives in order to keep them from developing risky habits like substance abuse in the future. This requires raising parents' knowledge of the issue.