Non-Parental Care Practices and Moral Character Development among Adolescents of Working Mothers in Nansana Municipality

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between non-parental childcare practices and the moral character development of adolescents aged 12–17 years, focusing on adolescents of working mothers in Nansana Municipality. This age group was selected due to its critical stage in moral character formation and the significant influence of external caregiving environments. The study was guided by three objectives: (1) To identify the types of non-parental care practices used for adolescents, (2) To analyze the relationship between non-parental care practices and adolescents’ moral values, and (3) To assess the role of counseling services in enhancing the quality of non-parental care for fostering socially acceptable moral values. A mixed-methods research design was employed, integrating qualitative interviews and quantitative techniques. Instrument validity was ensured through expert review and pretesting, while reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha, with coefficients exceeding 0.7 for key constructs. A sample size of 250 respondents was determined using Krejcie and Morgan’s formula to ensure statistical representation. Data collection involved structured questionnaires, interviews with adolescents and their caregivers, and response validation through triangulation. Quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings indicated a weak but significant negative relationship between non-parental care practices and adolescents’ moral values at a 5% significance level (r = -0.402, P < 0.05). This suggests that increased reliance on non-parental care correlates with a decline in adolescents' moral values. The study recommends integrating structured counselling services into non-parental care settings to enhance moral character development among adolescents of working mothers.