An Investigation on Psychosocial Challenges Facing Boy Child in Absentee Father Figure: A Case of Embakasi Central Constituency, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to find out psychosocial impact of absentee father in upbringing of the boy child in Embakasi Central Constituency, Nairobi County. The study focussed on the relationship between present and absent father figure in relation to boy child deliquency, truancy, drug and substance abuse as well as academic performance in Embakasi Constituency. To realize its objective, the study was majorly descriptive and adopted both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to collect, analyse and report the required data. The study was undertaken among boys brought up in absentee father figure families’ as well as present father figure families with age bracket between 12 and17, in Embakasi Central Constituency, Nairobi County. The study also sought to investigate the causes of absentee father figure in the same geographical location. In this study, a total of 90 respondents were sampled; 45 of them involved boys brought up with absent father figures, while the other 45, included boys brought up by both parents. The study sample for single mothers was 45. Non probability sampling method of single mothers with boys was used. Other than the questionnaire, oral interviews were conducted on mothers to find out the cause of single motherhood to collect the data. The study was founded on Social Learning and Structural functioning theories. There was focus on the family as a major player that creates social environment and determines the upbringing of the boy child. The study’s objectives aimed at finding out how parenting is conceptualized today; as well as seeking to find out the psychosocial indicators of upbringing the boy child in absentee father figure families. On academic performance, the research found out that boys from present father figure families perform better in school at an average grade of B as compared to those from absentee father families who perform at an average grade of C-. In regard to drugs and substance abuse, the study was able to tell that boys from absentee father figure are prone to drugs and substance abuse in relation to boys from present father figure. The research findings states that 47% of single mothers in Embakasi Central Constituency are single by choice. Gambling is almost at per from both present and absentee father figure boys; 81% and 91% respectively. However, from the research findings, it is also evident that some single mother have come up with alternative coping mechanism which are helping them provide overall support to the boy child this is according to the study findings which show that there are boys (11.1%) brought up by absentee father figure but they are equally doing well in school (C+) with very low delinquency rates (17%). In conclusion that study observes that boys brought up in the absence of father figure are likely to experience more psychosocial challenges as compared to those brought up with father figure families.