Parental Role Modeling and Adolescent Faith Development in Kasarani Constituency, Nairobi, Kenya

This study examines the role of parental involvement in adolescent faith development within Kasarani Constituency, Nairobi County. Drawing on earlier findings and new field interviews, the research highlights how parents serve as primary agents of spiritual socialization, ethical modeling, and faith encouragement. Across 297 respondents, 88% traced their motivation to attend church or mosque services—and their reverence for God—to faith education received at home. Building on these insights, this article explores how parental practices extend beyond formal instruction to include relational warmth, ethical conduct, and structured routines that nurture spiritual discipline and family unity. Thematic analysis revealed five core dimensions of parental influence: spiritual instruction, role modeling, foundational socialization, ongoing support, and the challenges posed by economic pressures. Respondents consistently emphasized that faith formation is cultivated through shared worship, prayer, dialogue, and everyday acts of kindness. Even amid economic hardship, adolescents valued parental presence, emotional availability, and encouragement as decisive factors in sustaining their spiritual engagement. Scriptural references, including Proverbs 22:6 (English Standard Version) and Ephesians 6:4 (New International Version), reinforce the theological imperative of parental guidance. The findings affirm that faith formation begins at home and is most powerfully nurtured through intentional, relational engagement. To strengthen youth participation, interventions must empower parents as spiritual mentors, support family worship routines, and foster environments where adolescents feel seen, heard, and spiritually secure. This study underscores the enduring influence of parental guidance in shaping spiritually grounded and socially responsible youth.

parental involvement, adolescent faith formation

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