The Nexus between Parenting Values, Beliefs and Behaviors of Arsi Oromoo: Implications for their Alignment in a given Culture
Keywords:
Parenting behaviors, conforming values, self-directing values, authoritarian beliefs, progressive beliefsAbstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which parenting values, beliefs and behaviors are aligned. Correlational research design was employed in the study. Questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from a sample of 442 Arsi Oromoo active childrearing mothers and fathers. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select the study site while simple random sampling technique was used to select the districts in which the households resided. Stratified random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean,
percentage & standard deviation) and inferential statistics (correlation, multiple regression, t-test & one-way ANOVA). The study revealed that parenting behavior score was significantly associated with parenting value and belief scores. Second, parenting behavior score is significantly predicted by parenting value and belief scores. Third, strong positive
association was found between parenting value and belief scores. Finally, the parenting strategy employed by Arsi Oromoo childrearing parents differed by residence, educational level and occupational categories. Generally, the present study concludes that there are statistically significant value-belief, value-behavior and belief-behavior connections in the
context of Arsi Oromoo. This means that what parents actually do with their children (parenting behavior) is determined by what parents value for their children (parenting value) and what parents assume how a child be raised and treated (parenting belief). The finding implicated that researchers, professionals and practitioners working with childrearing parents need to ensure that the three parenting constructs are aligned in a given culture and are compatible with the social norms and customs; and the contents, principles and assumptions of contemporary theories of parenting and child development.
