INFLUENCE OF PARENTING STYLES AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS ON CAREER CHOICES AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN KATSINA STATE, NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study is to investigate the influence of parenting styles and communication skills on career choices among secondary school students in Katsina state, North Western Nigeria. The study is guided by four (4) objectives, four (4) research questions and their corresponding null hypotheses are formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted a survey research design. The population comprised of 82,267 SS III students from Public Secondary Schools across the three Senatorial Districts of Katsina state. Sample size of 384 students were drawn from the population using Krejcie and Morgan’s sampling table and stratified random sampling technique was employed. The researchers’ made instrument titled “Influence of Parenting Styles and Communication Skills on Students' Career Choices Questionnaire (IPSCSSCCQ)” was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three (3) experts and the reliability of the instrument was ensured through Cronbach Alpha Coefficient that yielded a reliability of 0.83. Multiple Regression was used for data analysis, the R-value was used to answer the research questions while the F-ratio was used for testing the hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that authoritarian parenting has a significant influence on career choices and communication skills among secondary school students in Katsina state, Nigeria. The study concludes that parenting styles such as authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and communication skills have exerted influence on career choices among secondary school students in Katsina state, North Western Nigeria. Consequently, it is recommended, among others that NGOs in collaboration with professional Guidance Counsellors should organize a workshop to educate parents on the impact of their parenting styles through this initiative, encouraging the use of authoritative parenting that promotes open communication and supports children's career interests must be emphasized.