| dc.description.abstract | An adolescent faces a myriad of adjustment challenges characteristic of their developmental
stage. In addition, a parentally bereaved adolescent faces other challenges unique to blended
families when their surviving parent remarries. The current study examined the influence of
remarriage on the psychological well-being of parentally bereaved adolescents in Kiambu
County. The study objectives were: To examine how loyalty binds, parenting tasks, and
family culture influence parentally bereaved adolescents' psychological well-being. Based on
attachment and family system theories, the study adopted a descriptive design using
quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. The sample comprised of 132
parentally bereaved adolescents from reconstituted families, and 10 key informants who were
social workers, clergies, and individuals fostering parentally bereaved adolescents.
Quantitative data were collected using self-administered questionnaires among adolescents,
and qualitative data were obtained from the key informants through focus group discussions
(FGDs). To ensure the reliability of the research instrument, a pilot study was done before
conducting the actual study. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics
namely, percentage, frequency, mean, and standard deviation, as well as inferential statistics
which were ANOVA, and multivariate and the findings were presented by use of tables.
Qualitative data were analyzed thematically using a latent approach and the findings were
presented in verbatim. The findings showed that the adolescents exhibited low levels of
psychological well-being. The findings on autonomy and acceptance revealed a mean of 2.47
with a standard deviation of 0.926, and a mean of 2.40 with a standard deviation of 1.048,
respectively. The findings revealed that loyalty binds influenced psychological well- being of
adolescents as indicated by a mean of 2.22 and a standard deviation of 0.930.In addition,
parenting task was reported to affect the adolescents psychological well-being as indicated by
a mean of 2.64 and a standard deviation of 0.934.Further, it was established that family
culture influenced adolescents psychological well-being as indicated by a mean of 2.29 and a
standard deviation of 0.912. The regression model was statistically significant in predicting
that loyalty binds, parenting tasks, and family culture influenced parentally bereaved
adolescents’ psychological wellbeing (Sig. value = 0.000). The regression analysis showed a
strong and significant association between loyalty binds and psychological well-being
(coefficient value of 0.293, p-value of .028); family culture and psychological well-being
(coefficient value of .342, p-value of.010); and parenting task and psychological well-being
(coefficient value of .264, p-value of .013). The findings implied that loyalty binds, parenting
tasks, and family culture strongly and positively influenced the adolescent’s psychological
well-being. The study recommends specific counseling interventions to assist parentally
bereaved adolescents to adjust psychologically and thereby fit in reconstituted families. | en_US |
