An investigation into the effects of single motherhood on socio-emotional development of children in Kalundu zone primary schools, Kitui county

Abstract

Family processes affect the socio - emotional functioning of children and especially those living in poor families and families experiencing economic decline. Children of single mothers are at substantially higher risk than children of two parent families in experiencing socio - emotional problems. Increasing numbers and proportions of children born outside marriage and the rise in divorce rate have contributed to increased proportions of children growing up in single mother hood families; hence the purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of single motherhood on socio - emotional development of children in Kalundu Zone schools, Kitui County. Three research objectives were formulated to guide the study. These were; to find out whether there is any statistical significant relationship between single motherhood and socio - emotional development of children, to establish the role of teachers and caregivers i n promoting socio - emotional development of children from single mother hood families and lastly, to investigate whether there are statistically significant gender differences in socio - emotional development in children from single mother hood families. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The population include d 80 boys and 90 girls, 60 single mothers and 40 teachers in Kalundu Zone schools. T he sample for the study was selected using purposive sampling for children and parents and simple random sampling to select teachers and schools. The study use d questionnaires and observation schedules in data gathering and the instruments were piloted in the neighbouring Nzambani zone schools. It is hoped that t he findings of the study will be of practical value to early childhood teachers and care givers , the Ministry o f Education Science and Technology, the school administrators, the government and scholars. The findings of the study were; there is a very strong positive correlation r (1, 29) = 0.85, P < 0.05, between single motherhood and children’s socio - emotional development, there was significant association (χ 2 (1, 4) = 51.412, p< 0.05) between teachers’ role and socio - emotional development of children of single mothers and there are statistically significant gender differences in socio - emotional development in children from single motherhood families, (χ 2 (1, 29) = 35.0, p< 0.05). The recommendations o f the study were; The teachers of children from single parents should be more sensitive to the social needs of the children and always be ready to assist them, the single mothers should be sensitized in by schools on the importance of taking time w ith their children so that they do not learn amoral behaviour elsewhere and that schools should allow the single mothers to pay schools fees in instalments and also allow them to pay in kind so that their children can continue learning.