Effects of internet use on effective parenting among Christian families in Nakuru East Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

The proliferation of internet use has become rampant in today’s world and impacts the functioning of families in diverse ways. This study investigated the effect of internet use on effective parenting among Christian families in the Nakuru East sub-county, Nakuru County in Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the motivations of internet use in effective parenting among Christian families; to determine the effect of parental smartphone use on effective parenting among Christian families; and to examine the effect of parental social media usage on effective parenting among Christian families in the Nakuru East sub-county, Nakuru County in Kenya. The theoretical foundation of the study was the uses and gratification theory and the process of parenting model. A descriptive survey research design was used, and 385 participants were sampled using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. A questionnaire with open and closed questions collected qualitative and quantitative data respectively. Qualitative data was analyzed through themes and presented using narratives and quotes while quantitative data was analyzed using the SPSS (version 26) software program which aided in analyzing descriptive statistics using frequencies and percentages and inferential statistics using Pearson correlation and Chi-square tests. The findings were presented in the form of tables and figures. This study found a statistically significant relationship and association between motivation for internet use and effective parenting among Christian families in the Nakuru East sub-county, Nakuru County in Kenya (p<0.05). There was a strong positive relationship and association between parental smartphone use and effective parenting among Christian families in the Nakuru East sub-county, Nakuru County in Kenya (p<0.05). Moreover, there was a statistically significant relationship and association between parental social media use and effective parenting among Christian families in the Nakuru East sub-county, Nakuru County in Kenya (p<0.05). This study concluded that among Christian families in the Nakuru East sub-county, Nakuru County in Kenya, parents use the internet frequently, smartphones are a form of distraction in their parenting processes and social media has decreased parent-child interactions. This study recommends that future researchers consider similar research focusing on other religions.