Effect of parenting self-efficacy on teenagers’ self-regulation after COVID 19 in Kakamega North Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

It is established that parenting a teenager in the digital era is a daunting task. This study aimed to determine how parenting self-efficacy affects the self-regulation of teenagers in Kakamega North Sub-County after COVID-19. The study employed an ex post facto research design in conjunction with a correlation design. It was guided by two theories: self-efficacy theory by Bandura and attachment theory by John Bowlby. The target population of the study from the 44 secondary schools was 4667 respondents. The sample size from 10 secondary schools comprised 200 parents, 200 students, and 10 teachers of guiding and counseling. The sample was selected using stratified random and purposive sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires and interviews. Parenting self-efficacy was measured by the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC)—a measure that contains 17 items, which are rated on a six-point Likert scale to demonstrate parental satisfaction and efficacy. Teenager self-regulation was measured by the teenager’s Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ). Building strong research and choosing appropriate design instruments coupled with piloting ensured validity and reliability. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient index for data collection instruments was ≥.60, which was acceptable at a .60 threshold. Ethical considerations were observed. Data analysis comprised use of descriptive statistics (percentages, means, and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (Pearson’s (r), t-test, and linear regression). Qualitative data was analyzed thematically. A Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.441, at the 0.01 level (2-tailed), indicated a positive relationship between the two variables. This suggests that higher PSE is linked to improved self-regulation among teenagers. The results unravel the importance of fostering parenting self-efficacy to enhance teenagers’ behavioral outcomes. The study recommends parents adopting practices that boost their teenagers’ self-regulation, which in turn shapes behavior outcomes, and parenting training programs to teach parents strategies to improve teenage self-regulation.