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Title: | WIFE INHERITANCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING OF WIDOWS: A CASE STUDY OF UGENYA WIDOWS, SIAYA COUNTY, KENYA. |
Authors: | OWIYO, BONFACE |
Keywords: | WIFE INHERITANCE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING OF WIDOWS: |
Issue Date: | Sep-2022 |
Publisher: | The catholic University of Eastern Africa |
Abstract: | ABSTRACT
The loss of a spouse is a life changing experience that presents itself in terms of serious
psychological and social challenges that affect the widow wellness. The inherited widow plight in
Ugenya sub-county is not addressed due to the lack of awareness on the psychologicall challenges
they experience. The purpose of the study was to determine the psychological challenges that affect
the inherited widow wellness and explore the coping and intervention mechanisms adopted by the
inherited widows in Ugenya Sub County. The objectives of the study were to identify the
psychological challenges affecting the wellness of widows and explore the coping and intervention
mechanisms that the inherited widows adopt to deal with the psychological challenges and improve
inherited widow wellness within Ugenya Sub County. The study adopted descriptive research
design using a qualitative approach. The target population was all inherited widows in Ugenya Sub
County. The data collection methods were in-depth individual widow interviews and focused
group discussions. The data were analyzed thematically and presented in verbatim. The major
study findings indicated that spousal death results into psychosocial challenges such as; depressive
symptoms, fear of taking up family responsibilities, threats and fear of own life and feelings of
regret; while the social challenges included poverty and financial stress, conflicts, isolation and
rejection by the in-laws and the community, loneliness among others. To achieve wellness
inherited widows engaged in various coping and intervention mechanisms. The coping
mechanisms were; the use of divine intervention, social support, acceptance, avoidance and
embracing change. The key interventions to overcome the psychosocial challenges, were
awareness creation, social support groups, use of personal support and own initiative to seek
professional counseling services. The study recommended that for the widows to attain wellness,
they need to take personal responsibility to deal with the effects of the psychosocial challenges
through self-awareness, seeking professional counselling and to be part of social networks. In
addition, the inherited widows could be organized into widow groups for ease of attracting support
services from the churches and other agencies. The study also recommended that the churches
should endeavor to organize and create a pastoral ministry for widows that would serve as a
channel for awareness creation and access to services and resources required for improved
wellness. |
Description: | Master of Education in Counseling Psychology |
URI: | http://localhost/xmlui/handle/1/12915 |
Appears in Collections: | Theses and Dissertations
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