The Influence of Emotional Progression Factors on Adjustment to Loss and Grief on Kenyan Orphaned Secondary School Students

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of emotional progression factors on adjustment to Loss and Grief on orphaned Kenyan secondary school students.The study was informed by Erikson's Psychosocial Theory of Human Development. Mixed method research approach was used and with it, concurrent triangulation design was adopted. The target population consisted of 47 schools, 20 focus group discussion students, 10 personal interviews and 1,245 Form 3 orphaned students from public secondary schools in Kisumu Central Sub-County of Kenya. A sample size of 453 students from 15 secondary schools were sampled for the study using stratified random sampling technique. Reliability of the instruments was ascertained through a pilot study of 9% of the population that did not participate in the final study. Internal consistency was also used to determine the reliability of questionnaires and coefficient values of r=0.0771 was reported for the questionnaire. Face validity of the instruments was ascertained by pilot testing the questionnaires and also by seeking expert judgment by university lecturers. Data was collected by use of questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic framework. Trustworthiness of qualitative data was ensured by analyzing the framework as fronted by Lincoln &Guba (1985). The study findings revealed that emotional progression factors effected adolescents' adjustment to loss and grief. Respondents were positive about death and they concluded that death was not their greatest fear, yet, the feeling of being loved generated more positive feelings among adolescent respondents who said that the sense of being loved made them happy.

Parental Death During Adolescence: A Review of the Literature

“…While this finding related to gender differences, the authors did report no significant differences between males and female across coping style. Similar findings were reported in a study conducted on various types loss and grief experienced by orphaned children in Kenya, with absence of gender difference on adjustment to loss and grief in orphan secondary school students (Owaa et al, 2015, p. 493). In general, boys kept more to themselves while girls spoke more about their grief than did boys, demonstrating gender differences when adjusting to grief and loss.…”

Psychiatric disorders and associated risk factors in a sample of adolescents in Gaborone, Botswana: a cross-sectional study

“…Generally, a stable family with both parents can moderate a smooth transition from childhood through adolescence to adulthood, as both parents can contain the challenges and support the child. The absence of a parent can create a void or gap in the child’s developmental pathway [ 25 ], and much confusion typically follows as the child seeks to make sense of the loss or absence while also struggling with self-assertion and identity formation. When this is not well managed or contained, the adolescent is at risk of developing mental health complications, such as depression, anxiety, or falling into substance use.…”

Linking the emotional maturity factors and self-disclosure: a study of Indian organizations

“…Research provides evidences that emotional progression tend to face problems in more effective and constructive ways, such as promptly searching for solutions instead to relying solely on emotional support. Although emotional progression is important in understanding emotional advancement, the topic has IJOA 26,2 received little attention within modern empirical literature (Owaa et al, 2015). Emotional progression has self-confidence and positive self-concept characteristics (Loosemore and Lam, 2004).…”