Establishing the Relationship Between Family Background and Problem Behaviour of Institutionalized Teenagers in Othaya Sub-county of Nyeri County, Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to establish the relationship between family background and problem behaviours of institutionalized teenagers in Othaya Sub-County of Nyeri County, Kenya. Its objectives were to: assess the relationship between family structure, nature and level of misbehaviour by the respective teenagers, establish the relationship between the level of parental discipline and the nature of problem behaviour by the institutionalized teenagers, and investigate the relationship between the level of deprivation of basic needs and the associated problem behaviours by the delinquent children. The study utilized the Anomie and Social Disorganization Theories. A mixed method approach was used to generate detailed information on the phenomenon under investigation. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The study purposively targeted one remand home (Ruring’u Remand Home) and one rehabilitation centre (Othaya Rehabilitation Centre) in Othaya sub-county of Nyeri County. Institutionalized children were the primary respondents, whereas Parents, Correctional Officers, Probation Officers and After-Care Officers were the secondary informants. Semi-structured interview schedules were used to collect data from 98 institutionalized children and 20 Key Informants. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics for quantitative data, whereas a thematic approach was used for qualitative data. The findings revealed significant correlations between the investigated variables and delinquent behavior. Family structure exhibited a moderately weak positive correlation (r = 0.366) with problem behavior, indicating an association between family structure and delinquency. Parental discipline showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.673) with problem behavior, emphasizing the influence of parental instructions and authority on the behaviour of children. Basic needs deprivation demonstrated a strong positive correlation (r = 0.685) with problem behavior, highlighting the influence of lack of essential necessities on the development of aggression, impulsivity, and low self-esteem. The study therefore recommended interventions that address these factors, including parental role modeling, counseling services, community support, and provision of basic needs, to promote positive outcomes and reduce delinquency among at-risk youths.