Effect of Perceived Authoritative Parenting Style on Adolescents’ Identity Styles: A Case of Selected Public Secondary Schools in Westlands Sub-County, Nairobi County, Kenya

Elizabeth W.M. Njenga, M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy; Susan Chang’orok, Ph.D., United States International University; & Anne Wambugu, Ph.D., Pan Africa Christian University

Adolescence is a crucial period marked by significant psychological and social development, particularly in identity formation. Berzonsky’s identity model suggests each individual employs different identity styles and each style can have implications on psychological well-being and adjustment. One influential factor in this process is parenting style, which encompasses parental behaviors, attitudes, and strategies in child-rearing. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of authoritative parenting style on adolescents’ identity styles. Baumarind’s theory of parenting styles and Berzonsky’s identity styles model anchored the study. The data collection instruments used were questionnaires; Perceived Parenting Styles Scale used to measure parenting styles, the Inventory of Parents and Peers Attachment (IPPA) used to measure parental attachment and Identity Styles Inventory (ISI-5) used to measure Identity styles. The research was a quantitative study with descriptive data acquired via survey methodology. The study had a sample size of 408 participants, 209 males and 199 females, all aged between 15 and 19. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to measure association between variables, and assumptions of regression analysis was done prior to regression analysis to check for its suitability. Regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between variables. IBM SPSS Version 28 was used to analyse the data. The results indicated that normative (β = 0.220, p = 0.000) and informative (β = 0.096, p = 0.048) identity styles and authoritative parenting styles were positively correlated. The study implications are that adolescents who grow up under authoritative parents have a high chance of developing an informative identity style and a normative identity style. They are also not likely to develop a diffuse avoidant identity style.

Key Words: Adolescents, Authoritative Parenting Style, Identity Styles