Relationship between perceived parental involvement and treatment adherence among adolescent substance use disorder patients in rehabilitation centers in Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

Adolescent substance use is a concern to families, schools, psychologists, and society at large as it hampers the ability to achieve personal and national goals. Despite efforts to provide quality treatment to adolescent substance users, there is scarce information on how parenting influences treatment dynamics. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between perceived parental involvement and treatment adherence among adolescent substance use disorder patients in selected rehabilitation centers in Kiambu County. Based on attachment theory, the study utilized a correlational survey design to establish the significance of the relationship between the study variables. The population targeted was 72 adolescents undergoing treatment in various rehabilitation centers in Kiambu County. Multistage sampling was used to obtain the sample. A questionnaire developed by the researcher was used to collect quantitative data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic factors, levels of adherence to treatment and perceived parental involvement. Correlations between perceived parental involvement and adherence to treatment were established using Spearman’s Rank correlation coefficient. The study found that adolescents rated maternal involvement (p= 0.024) higher than paternal involvement (p= -0.080). There was a markedly weak relationship between perceived parental involvement and adherence to treatment among adolescents (p= -0.034). The study recommends more research into the current forms of parental involvement that facilities have adopted while treating in-patient adolescent SUD clients.