Perceived Paternal Care and Self-Esteem as a Predictor of Depressive Symptoms among Adolescent Boys in Selected Schools in Kiambu County, Kenya

Venoranda Rebecca Kuboka, MA in Marriage and Family Therapy & Ciriaka Gitonga, Ph.D., Pan Africa Christian University

Abstract

Perceived paternal care is attributed to the development of depression among adolescents. Depression is characterized by moodiness, low interest in activities, acting out and aggressiveness. The objective of this article is to establish the relationship between perceived paternal care and development of depression among adolescent boys. Many studies have examined how parenting styles contribute to the development of depression in the context of both parents, that is, the mother and father. Few studies seem to focus on assessing how paternal care predicts the development of depression among boys in Kenya. An investigation on the relationship between paternal care and depression was therefore ideal. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between paternal care and development of depression. Stratified random sampling was used to select four boys’ schools. Purposive sampling was then used to select 87 boys who had fathers. Perceived parental care was assessed using the Paternal Nurturance scale. Depression was assessed using the Center Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). The findings of the study revealed that there is a negative correlation of (r= -.239) between perceived paternal care and depression among adolescent boys. The findings of this study will help mental health practitioners to develop interventions that incorporate parents in addressing the psychological needs of adolescents.

Keywords: paternal care, depression, and adolescent