Date of Award

December 2020

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Human Development and Family Science

Advisor(s)

Ambika Krishnakumar

Subject Categories

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

AbstractGrounded in Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection and Social Learning theories, and guided by Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions framework, this study sought to test the applicability of parenting typologies within the Ghanaian context. In addition to ascertaining maternal and paternal culturally-specific parenting typologies, the associations among parenting typologies, and sociodemographic correlates, adolescents’ academic and behavioral outcomes were determined. Variations in the prevalence of parenting styles, academic and behavioral outcomes across different Ghana’s cultural regions were also examined. A sample of 800 adolescents, including 489 (61.1%) females and 311 (38.9%) males drawn from high schools located in two southern sector regions (Greater Accra and Eastern) in Ghana participated in the study. Adolescents indicated belongingness to six Ghanaian cultural regions – Greater Accra, Eastern, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo, Central and Western, Volta, and Northern. Using Mplus Version 7.4 software package (Muthén & Muthén, 1998-2015), four distinct parenting typologies emerged from a latent profile analysis (LPA) for mothers and fathers. They included moderately authoritarian (not for play); Neglectful (abi-zi-bii); Good Enough (oye ara); and Authoritative (oho ni ho) parenting typologies. Adolescents whose parents were authoritative in their parenting style indicated lower externalizing problem behaviors and internalizing problem behaviors and higher prosocial behaviors compared to adolescents whose parents engaged in other parenting typologies. Significant differences were not found across six Ghanaian cultural regions in the prevalence of parenting styles, behavioral and academic outcomes. Findings of this study have implications for development of programs and services directed towards improving parent-adolescent relationships and advancing adolescent well-being.

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Open Access

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