INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL PARENTAL SEPARATION ON DELINQUENCY OF STUDENTS IN SELECTED PUBLIC SECONDARY

Purpose: While numerous studies have explored the general effects of parental separation on children's academic performance and emotional well-being, limited research has focused on its specific impact on delinquent behaviour among adolescents in Kenya, particularly in Kikuyu Sub-County. Therefore, this study looked at how parental physical separation affects students' delinquency in public secondary schools in Kenya's Kikuyu Sub-County. Methodology: The research employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative techniques to provide a comprehensive analysis. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect both types of data. The study targeted 482 students in public secondary schools in Kikuyu Sub-County who were experiencing parental separation, with a sample size of 219 students, selected through stratified random sampling. In addition, purposive sampling was conducted to select 20 students to respond to KIIs. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, and percentages) and inferential statistics (regression analysis and chi-square testing) were employed to evaluate the hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. Thematic analysis identified patterns and themes in the qualitative data, providing deeper insights into the experiences and perspectives of students regarding parental separation and delinquency. Findings: According to the study findings, physical parental separation had a significant influence of student delinquency. Specifically, the Pearson correlation between material separation and delinquency was 0.640. The regression model explained 55.2% of the variance in student delinquency, confirming the significant impact of physical parental separation on student behaviour. Recommendations: Based on the study findings, the study suggested that introducing mentorship programmes to support students facing physical separation from their parents was ideal.