Child Upbringing and Delinquency in Zambia: Evidence from Chipata Central Parliamentary Constituency
Mercy Mutale Mukuka *
School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Rusangu University, Monze, Zambia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between child upbringing practices and delinquent behaviors among young people in Chipata Central Parliamentary Constituency, Zambia, with particular attention to parenting styles, parental care, parental attachment, and spiritual nurturing as possible correlates of aggression, emotional instability, child sexual exploitation, and conduct problems. The research was guided by Baumrind’s parenting styles typology and Bandura’s social learning theory, which explain how parental practices and modeled behaviors influence children’s behavioral development.
A cross-sectional survey design using quantitative methods was employed. The study was conducted in Chipata Central Parliamentary Constituency in Chipata District, Eastern Province, Zambia, between March and May 2024. A sample of 100 parents was randomly selected from the constituency population. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered in both English and Nyanja to ensure clarity and inclusiveness. The instrument demonstrated acceptable internal reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.775). Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to analyze the data using SPSS.
The findings revealed that indulgent parenting was the most prevalent parenting style, with 89% of parents mainly focusing on children’s behavior without consistent regulation. A significant positive relationship was found between parenting styles and perceptions of youth violence (r = +0.433, p < .001). Furthermore, 93% of respondents reported that violent behavior has become common among young people, and 90% indicated that violent children often come from violent homes. Parental care showed weak correlations with emotional instability, while parental attachment had no significant relationship with child sexual exploitation. Most respondents (94%) identified peer influence as the primary factor contributing to child sexual exploitation.
The study concludes that youth delinquency in the constituency is largely associated with indulgent parenting practices and peer group influence. It recommends community-based parenting programs promoting authoritative parenting and interventions aimed at addressing negative peer pressure among adolescents.
Keywords: Child upbringing, parenting styles, juvenile delinquency, Zambia, adolescent behavior, peer influence, authoritative parenting