CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1.    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Parenting or child rearing practice is a mental concept representing standard strategies that parents use as their parenting style, which will influence the mental wellbeing of students especially students and adults. The most consistent predictor of adolescent mental wellbeing is the quality of relationship students have with their parents and others, (Resnick, Bearman, Blum, Bauman, Harris, Jones, & Ireland, 2014). Parents are important factors in the life of students, inversely, the adolescent parental practice engaged in by parents also affects the well-being of students and the consequences affect the society at large. Parenting involves nurturing, instructing, directing, controlling and disciplining the children in preparation for their role in the society in general and personal life in particular. A child is born into a family setting and the family and whatever represents a home for the adolescent is vital in the developing of the mental personality of the adolescent. Face to face interaction within the family environment especially between parents and students molds the character and world view of the adolescent and often influences social competence. According to Salamone (2008) adolescent-parental practice in Africa is a form of education, consisting of the development of the adolescent’s physical skills, development of character, respect for elders, development of intellectual skills and vocational training. It involves the development of the sense of belonging, active participation in the family and community affairs, and an effort to understand, appreciate and promote the cultural heritage of the community at large. It also include some forms of physical trainings carried out by emulating the adults performing the acts such as wrestling, boxing, climbing trees, music and dancing. Parental style in Nigeria aims at the development of the character requires the adolescent to be sociable, honest, courageous, humble and preserving. Baumrind (2008) categorized adolescent parental styles into three types: authoritarian, permissive and authoritative. Authoritarian parents are defined as rigid, punitive and demand unquestioning obedience from their children. They have very strict standards and discourage expressions of disagreement. Permissive parents are warm yet they require little from their wards, hence they give their children law or inconsistent directions. Authoritative parents are firm, setting limits for their students. As the students get older, authoritative parents try to reason with and explain things to them. Negligent parenting style also erodes an adolescent’s self-confidence, robs the adolescent of emotional/mental stability (Gómez-Ortiz, Del Rey, Romera, & Ortega-Ruiz, 2015). Bakunin (2007) advocated for parenting styles that aim at developing a well-rounded individual.

The influence of the family on the adolescent and its roles in the emotional, social, and mental wellbeing are very great and important. The interaction between adolescents and parents and how parents communicate with children are considered very vital and fundamental in fostering and healthy behavior among adolescents. To this end the focus of this present study include ascertaining patterns of mental wellbeing among Nigerian students and how it affects their broken relationships and finding out the predictive influence of perceived adolescent parental styles (authoritative, authoritarian and permissive) on mental wellbeing of Nigerian students.

1.2.    STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL PROBLEM

Parenting style is overtime been found to have unprecedented effect of children and more so these effects have varying effects on gender of children. Poor parenting have been identified as a major problem responsible for students’ psychosocial and mental development. Many parents often believe that the best way to groom their children especially the adolescents is by being oppressive, authoritative and autocratic.

In the light of the above, the research intends to find out the major mental problems confronting female students as regards failed relationships.  

1.3.    AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major aim of the study is to examine the effect of parenting styles as a factor influencing the mental health of female students in failed relationships. Other objectives of the study are;

1.  To examine the influence of parenting style on mental health of female students.

2.  To determine the relationship between parenting style, mental health and failed relationships of female students in Nigeria.

3.  To determine the need for effective parenting style among female students in Nigeria.

4.  To assess the level of mental health among female students in Nigeria.

5.  To recommend ways of improving parenting styles and mental health of students in Nigeria.

1.4.    RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.  How does parenting style influence mental health of female students?

2.  What is the relationship between parenting style, mental health and failed relationships of female students in Nigeria?

3.  Is there a need for effective parenting style among female students in Nigeria?

4.  What are the levels of mental health among female students in Nigeria?

5.  What are the ways of improving parenting styles and mental health of students in Nigeria?

1.5.    RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Hypothesis 1      

H0: There is no significant influence of parenting styles on mental health of female students.

H1: There is a significant influence of parenting styles on mental health of female students.

Hypothesis 2

H0: There is no significant relationship between parenting style, mental health and failed relationships among female students.

H1: There is a significant relationship between parenting style, mental health and failed relationships among female students.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The research study is significant to both parents and other stakeholders as this study unravel the relationship between parenting styles, mental health and failed relationships among female students. The study would also be of immense importance to students, researchers and scholars who intend in developing further studies on the subject matter..

1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study is restricted to the assessment of parenting style as a factor influencing the mental health of female students in failed relationships among female students in Nigeria.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview)

Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Adolescence –It is a transition period from childhood to adulthood where responsibilities and privileges vary simultaneously. Besides being a transition phase, it is also an expanding phase and hence referred in three stages. This study adopted Melgosa‟s(2012) stages and used them in the study. These are as follows: Early adolescence: 11-15 years Middle adolescence: 16-18 years Late adolescence: 18-22 years.

Parenting styles- It is an independent variable in the study which refers to a psychological construct representing standards and strategies that parents use in their child rearing, and in provision of basic needs. It refers to a child rearing behavior of parents, guardians or caregivers which involves the amount of control over a child’s welfare.