| dc.description.abstract | Studies indicate that parenting style is associated with child maltreatment and behavior problems. Little is known about factors such as child personality that can affect this association and studies on the relationship between fathers‟ parenting practices and child behavior remain scarce. Reports by Child Line Kenya indicate an increase in cases of child maltreatment in Bungoma County. Between 2014 and 2016, the County held the 6th position out of 47 counties with highest cases of child maltreatment. In 2018, it moved to the 3rd position surpassing Kisumu, Nakuru and Uasin Gishu counties which had earlier recorded higher cases of maltreatment. The drastic increase in cases of child maltreatment in Bungoma County gave the impetus to carry out the study. This study sought to establish the moderating role of child personality factors on the relation between parenting style, maltreatment and behavior problems among children in middle childhood in Bungoma County. The objectives of the study were to: establish parenting styles present among parents from Bungoma County; determine the level of maltreatment of children by mothers and fathers; evaluate the relation between parenting style, child maltreatment and child internalizing and externalizing behavior problems; establish the moderating role of child personality factors in the association between parenting style and child maltreatment; and finally determine the moderating role of child personality in the association between maltreatment and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems among children in middle childhood. The study was carried out in Bungoma North, East, West, South, Central, Webuye West and Mt. Elgon sub counties. A conceptual model by Holden (1990) and Baron and Kenny (1986) was used to show the association between parenting style, child maltreatment, internalizing and externalizing behavior problems and personality factors. Cross sectional, descriptive survey and correlational designs were used. Multi-stage and simple random sampling techniques were employed. Krejcie and Morgan‟s (1970) sample size estimating table was used to determine the sample size. A total of 384 children aged 7-10 years were sampled out 226,165 children aged 5-10 years who were residents of Bungoma in the year 2016.The parents of these children, 384 mothers and 384 fathers were targeted. Data of 155 fathers and 140 mothers was used in the analysis. Face and content validity of instruments used were ascertained before the start of the study. Test-retest reliabilities for the instruments were: Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire (r = .72), Parent Child Conflict Scale (r = .70), Child Behavior Checklist (r = .76) and Big Five Personality Questionnaire for Children (r = .74). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation and hierarchical regression analysis. It was found that mothers predominantly used authoritative parenting styles 48(34.3%) and fathers used authoritarian parenting style 60(38.9%). Results showed that mothers maltreated children more than fathers (M = 1.67, SD = .52) and (M = 1.51, SD = .52), t = -2.72, df = 107, p =.01 and there were no significant differences in maltreatment of boys and girls by mothers: boys (M = 1.66, SD = .43) and girls (M = 1.67, SD = .49), t =-.20, df = 136, p = .84).There were also no significant differences in maltreatment of boys and girls by fathers: boys (M = 1.60, SD = .43) and girls (M = 1.50, SD = .41), t = 1.46, df = 153, p = .15). Results showed that mothers‟ and fathers‟ parenting style were significantly associated with child maltreatment, β = .25 (p = .01) and β = .17 (p = .04) respectively. Maltreatment by mothers was associated with child internalizing and externalizing behavior β = .46 (p = .00) and β = .44 (p = .00) respectively. Similarly, maltreatment by fathers was associated with child internalizing and externalizing behavior β = .22 (p = .01) and β = .33 (p = .00) respectively. Openness, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness and Neuroticism moderated the association between maltreatment by mothers and child‟s behavior problems. Openness and Extraversion moderated the association between maltreatment by fathers and externalizing behavior. The findings offer a new understanding of the moderating role of child personality factors in the association between child maltreatment and behavior problems. | en_US |
