FATHER-ABSENCE AND PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF LEARNERS IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN MAKUENI SUB-COUNTY, MAKUENI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

ABSTRACT A family is the basic unit of society that provide the first socialization experiences for children. Parents are key individuals for the nurturing and welfare of their children. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the influence of father-absence on adolescents’ development among secondary school learners in Makueni Sub- County, Makueni County, Kenya. The study was guided by these objectives: to establish the influence of father- absence on social emotional adjustment of adolescent among secondary school learners, to assess the relationship between father-absence and social behavior of the adolescents among secondary school learners, to determine the influence of father-absence on the academic performance of adolescents’ among secondary school learners and to identify strategies and intervention for supporting adolescents coming from father-absent families in Makueni Sub-County. The study was anchored on Psychoanalysis Theory by Sigmund Freud in 1901 and Social Learning theory by Albert Bandura in 1977. The study adopted Embedded mixed method design which was aided by descriptive survey and phenomenological design for quantitative and qualitative enquires respectively. Data was collected through questionnaires for students, and semi-structured interview guide for the teachers. Upon carrying out the research, father-absence was found to have an influence on academic performance among secondary school learners in Makueni Sub-County, Makueni County. The study presented various elements of adolescent psychosocial welfare aspects and outlined multiple possible interventions that can be used in resolving the effects of absent-fathers on adolescents’ psychosocial development. The informed conclusions shed light on the complexities of absent-fathers. Multiple stakeholders may benefit from the findings of the study including: adolescents, caregivers, psychologists, teachers, policy-makers and parents, by knowing the psychological effects of fathers’ absence on the adolescents’ development, hence adapting appropriate strategies to deal with the challenges.