Family Dynamics and Psychological Outcome of the Child in Kenya: Case of Kabete Sub-County in Kiambu County

Abstract

Family changes adversely impact psychological outcome of a child. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of blended family dynamics on the psychological outcome of the child in Kenya using case of Kabete Sub-County in Kiambu County. The study employed primary data collected from a sample of 50 secondary school age-going children from blended families focusing on 14 – 19 years age group. The data was analysed using descriptive analysis method as well as inference using chi-square technique. Some of the key findings were that most of the respondents did not spend time with their stepparents often, and they trusted their biological parents with secrets rather than the stepparents, and were affected by buying decisions in stepfamilies. The findings of the study are important in that they can be used to formulate policies and strategies for promoting improvement in psychological outcome of the child in blended families.

Keywords: Psychological outcome, blended family, stepparents, stepfather families, stepmother families.