Influence of Parenting Style on Adolescent Behaviour in the Tema Metropolis

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the influence of parenting style on the behaviour of adolescents in the Tema Metropolis. The research adopted a mixed-method research design. A total sample of 200 adolescents and 50 parents of the adolescents were recruited from selected senior high schools in the Tema Metropolis. Structured questionnaires and in-depth personal interviews were used to collect data for the study. Statistical analysis was used on the quantitative data by calculating the frequency distribution while thematic analysis was used on the qualitative data. The findings demonstrated that authoritative parenting is the most dominant style, adopted by 58% of parents. Additionally, the socioeconomic status (SES) of parents was found to be a key factor influencing parenting choices, with higher and middle SES parents more likely to adopt the authoritative and permissive style while parents with low SES were likely to use the authoritarian and permissive parenting styles. Furthermore, the findings indicate that parents have strong influence on their adolescent’s education and career paths while having less influence on their personal beliefs and values, interpersonal relationships, and health and lifestyle. The study also identified social media, peer pressure, work-life balance and financial difficulty as key challenges to effective parenting. These findings have important implications for stakeholders such as parents, educators, social workers, and policymakers. In particular, they highlight the need for interventions that encourage effective parenting practices and provide appropriate support for families, this will help promote healthier developmental outcomes and overall well-being among adolescents in urban areas.