Family factors, school environment and conduct problems among primary school pupils in Kampala District

Abstract

Adolescent conduct problems in relation to family factors (socio economic status, authoritative parenting style) and School environment had received little attention in Uganda, thus the major purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), authoritative parenting style, school environment and conduct problems among primary school pupils in Kampala district. The study was guided by four specific objectives viz: To determine the relationship between SES and conduct problems. To establish the relationship between authoritative parenting style and conduct problems, To ascertain the relationship between school environment and conduct problems. To examine the extent to which socioeconomic status, authoritative parenting style and School environment predict conduct problems amongst primary school pupils in Makindye division Kampala district. A correlation survey design with a quantitative approach was employed to empirically examine the relationships. It involved primary seven pupils in four purposively selected schools from which a sample of 406 respondents was selected using simple random sampling. Data was collected using a selfadministered questionnaire. Pearson correlation was used to establish the relationships between the variables. Overall SES, Authoritative parenting style and School environment were found to be not significantly related to pupils conduct problems. In conclusion, family factors (SES, Authoritative parenting style) and school environment did not show any direct relationship with conduct problems among primary school pupils in Makindye division Kampala district. However, the study findings revealed 3-35% of conduct problems among school pupils in Makindye division Kampala district. Therefore, the study recommends that parents and teachers should continuously engage in frequent communication with children and be reasonably nurturing to reduce the probability of developing conduct problems.