Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to analyse the influence of authoritative parenting style on the self-esteem of delinquents at the rehabilitation centers in Nakuru. The theories that were identified for this study included Baumrind Theory on parenting styles, Adult Attachment theory by John Bowlby and Carl Rogers Theory in Self Theory on Personality Development. The study adopted a descriptive survey design while using a quantitative method. The study had a target population of sixty-seven delinquents in Nakuru Juvenile Remand and Probation Hostels for Girls. The entire population (census) was used for this study meaning that all the 67 delinquents at the time of study participated. The study used a descriptive data analysis technique and inferences pointing out the relationship between the dependent and independent variables were analyzed using the Pearson Correlation. The study found out that there is a significant strong relationship between the Authoritative parenting style and the self-esteem of delinquents at the Nakuru rehabilitation centers (P<0.05). The study recommends that future researchers should conduct studies that differentiatebetween the maternal and paternal parenting styles on the self-esteem of adolescent delinquents.Key Terms:Authoritative parent, juvenile delinquent, parenting style, self-esteem
