Influence of parental marital status on self-esteem, discipline and interpersonal relationships among secondary school students within Nakuru Municipality, Kenya

Abstract

Single parent households are caused by factors such as divorce, separation, death of spouse, single parent by choice and due to rapid breakdown of traditional structures in the face of globalization, modernization, migration and urbanization. Presently, single parenting has found little, if any, acceptance in most communities in Kenya, which may adversely affect self esteem, discipline and interpersonal relationships of children in the households. However, many communities still regard dual parenthood as a better way of rearing children. This study therefore aimed at establishing the influence of dual and single parent families on the development of children’s self esteem, discipline and interpersonal relationships. The research design was causal-comparative, in which a population of 4257 Form 3 and Form 4 students was used. The study was carried out in 18 public secondary schools within Nakuru Municipality, Kenya. A sample size of 360 students, from both single and dual parent families was used in the study. The sample size of 360 students was obtained through purposive and stratified sampling techniques. Data was collected by use of a questionnaire. Data analysis was done by use of descriptive and inferential statistics, which included means, frequencies, chi square, t-test and ANOVA statistics. The significance level was set at α = 0.05. The analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.5. An analysis of the major findings of this study indicated that students from dual parent households tended to have higher self esteem levels than those from single parent households. In addition, duration lived in a parenthood status did influence the self esteem, discipline and interpersonal relationships levels of students significantly. Gender of the single parent also influenced the levels of self esteem, discipline and interpersonal relationships of students significantly. The findings of this study will hopefully assist the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry in charge of Youth Affairs, policy makers and other stakeholders to better understand the students’ problems that emanate from their parents’ marital status and hopefully devise ways and means of alleviating them. Based on the major findings of this study, it is recommended that all stakeholders undertake measures aimed at improving self esteem, discipline and interpersonal relationships of students and especially those with only one parent.