FAMILY FUNCTIONING ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF PARENTS RAISING CHILDREN WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT: A CASE STUDY IN KERICHO COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Hearing loss may lead to diverse consequences that affect an individual’s quality of life. Parents with children who have any form of impairment bear the burden of providing effective care and support and this results to cases where they feel overwhelmed, disappointed and detached. The purpose of this study was to assess the family functioning on psychological well-being of parents raising children with hearing impairment in Kericho County, Kenya. The study was guided by five research questions namely to assess the family communication pattern, the impact of family affective responsiveness, the influence of family problem-solving techniques, behaviour control influence and the strategies that enhance psychological well-being of parents raising children with hearing impairment in Kericho County. The study was guided by the McMaster Model Family Functioning (MMFF) theory and it also reviewed the Family Systems theory and Olson Annular theory. Convergent Research Design was applied. The target population of the study was 708 participants involving parents of children with hearing impairment and children with hearing impairment from Kericho County. The sample size involved 70 respondents including; parents and their children with hearing impairments. Data was collected using questionnaires administered to parents and interview guides were administered to pupils. The validity and reliability of the instrument was done through pilot testing. Quantitative data was analysed Statistical Packages for Social Sciences Version 21 and results presented in form of percentages, frequency distributions, mean and standard deviation. Qualitative data was presented using narratives. The findings of the study showed that communication patterns, affective responsiveness, problem-solving techniques and behaviour control impacts on psychological well-being. The study recommends that there should be common language for both the parents and children with hearing impairment in order to enhance effective communication hence parents to learn the Sign Language, to enable them communicate well with their children. The parents should learn how to express their affection to the child with hearing impairment and convey true feelings for their children with ease. Parents should involve children with hearing impairment in the problem solving process in issues that affect them directly. Parents should communicate the expected behaviour and be explicit about consequences that come along with non-compliance.