Authoritarian parenting styles, substance abuse and externalized behaviour among secondary school students

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between authoritarian parenting style, substance abuse, and externalized problem behaviour among secondary school students in Kawempe division Kampala district. A correlation research design was used to conduct the study, it involved three schools in Kampala district participants were selected using stratified random sampling, in three schools. The total sample of this study consisted of 301 senior three students. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to investigate the relationship between the variables. Findings indicated that overall authoritarian parenting style was found to be negative and not significantly related to substance abuse(r = - 0.006, p>0.05), substance abuse was found to be positively and significantly related to externalized problem behaviour(r=0.489, p<0.01), overall authoritarian parenting style was found not to be significantly related to overall externalized problem behaviour (r=0.041, p>0.05). It was concluded that students who engage in substance abuse are most likely to participate in Externalized Problem Behaviour at school, home and their communities. It was recommended that students should be sensitized about the dangers of substance abuse to avoid increased involvement in externalized problem behaviour as these actions cause harm in their lives, future relationships and career.