Exploring Parenting Styles and Experiences of Houseparents in Guiding Children in Conflict with the Law

Abstract

While numerous studies have explored parental influence on children’s development, limited research in the Philippines has examined the parenting styles of houseparents caring for Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), particularly within institutional rehabilitation settings. Understanding their caregiving approaches provides valuable insights into how parenting principles are applied in structured environments to promote behavioral reform and emotional stability among youth offenders. The main objective of this mixed-method study was to explore the parenting styles and caregiving strategies of houseparents at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY)–VII in Argao, Cebu. Data were gathered from ten houseparents through the Parenting Style Four Factor Questionnaire (PSFFQ) by Shyny (2017) and in-depth semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistics revealed that the authoritative parenting style was the most dominant, reflecting warmth, communication, and firm yet compassionate discipline. Findings further indicated that houseparents often treat CICL as their own children, fostering trust and emotional connection through consistent communication and empathy. Despite challenges such as resource scarcity, behavioral difficulties, and emotional strain, they remained resilient through faith, teamwork, and a sense of calling. Additionally, the study found that houseparents continuously adjust their approach to meet each child’s unique needs. Beyond supervision, they act as mentors and emotional anchors, modeling respect, responsibility, and healthy communication. They emphasized that strong institutional support, such as ongoing training, counseling, and adequate staffing, plays a crucial role in helping them care effectively and compassionately for the youth. The study ultimately shows that caring, understanding, and well-trained houseparents are key to helping CICL recover and develop emotionally in institutional care.