The effects of Single Parenthood on Educational and Psychological development among adolescents of ack cathedral Archdeaconry Diocese of MT. Kenya Central

Abstract

The purpose of the research was establish effects of single parenthood on educational and psychological development among adolescents of ACK Cathedral Archdeaconry Diocese of Mt. Kenya Central. The study objectives were; to determine the relationship between adolescent educational achievement, establish if adolescents exhibit same level of educational achievements irrespective of their parental background; to assess the impact of single parenthood on the adolescent‟s psychological development and to identify best practices in addressing single parenthood challenges among adolescents in ACK Cathedral Archdeaconry Diocese of Mt. Kenya Central. Theories of family deficit model and risk and protective factor models are going to guide the study especially since to find out the effect on academic performance of the children. The study employed descriptive research design. The target population was 250 adolescents from single parents. The study used purposive sampling. The finding of objective one on the relationship between adolescents‟ education achievement and the type of parents the study revealed that 92.3 percent of the adolescents were from single parent families and the performance of 53.9 percent was C+-and C-. From the Pearson Product moment correlation the research hypothesis is rejected and the null hypothesis is accepted that there is a significance difference between adolescents psychological development and grades achieved and the type of family. This meant that it did not matter which family an adolescent came from when it comes to their performance. The second objective on educational achievement of the adolescents irrespective of their parental background revealed that 49.2percent of adolescents indicated that their parents influence on their performance was moderate. The third objective on the impact of single parenthood on adolescent‟s psychological development, the study revealed that 55.4percent of the adolescents sometimes did their homework without supervision and 53.8percent of the adolescents most of the time had many positive qualities. The fourth objective was the best practices in addressing single parent challenge, revealed that 64.6 percent were in favour of adolescents camps, seminars and counselling sessions to equip them with necessary skills. The study concluded that the relationship between adolescents‟ education achievement and the type of parenthood did not matter since there are other factors that would influence adolescents‟ performance. Parents influence on adolescents‟ performance was found to be moderate hence the students‟ performance may have been influenced by other factors but not their parents. Adolescent psychological development would mean they are able to take on responsibilities without necessarily having someone to follow them up. The best practices in addressing single parenthood challenges among the adolescents were to have more seminars, camps which would have talks that would equip the adolescents with skills and knowledge on issues that affect their daily lives. The study recommends; need to fully support adolescents at school since single parent family have no or less influence on students‟ performance; need for adolescents to be guided in emotional respect for themselves and for others as this made them more competent in all responsibilities accorded to them and the government, school and the church to work together in equipping the adolescents with information, skills, and knowledge that would help them become all rounded human being when they are in school and at home.