Early Childhood Trauma's Psychological Effects on Children From Single-Parent Households in Kenya: A Case of Selected Primary Schools in Kanduyi Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya

Abstract

The study investigated the psychological impact of early childhood trauma on children from single-parent families in Bungoma County, Kenya. This study investigated the effects of early childhood trauma on the psychological well-being of children from single-parent families, seeking to uncover nuanced insights into the specific psychological indicators affected by trauma exposure. The study drew upon Erikson's psychosocial development theory to understand how early trauma may disrupt normal progression through psychosocial stages and influence psychological outcomes. The target population comprised 28,000 children from parents single-parent families, while 379 participants were sampled for the study. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires and surveys to assess psychological symptoms, resilience factors, and demographic information. Two standardized tests were used: Eisen, "Children's Posttraumatic Symptom Inventory (PT-SIC)," and, "Revisions to the Traumatic Events Screening Inventory-Parent Report (TESI-PRR)".Other tools that bridged the generation gap: CPSS (Child PTSD Symptom Scale): The CPSS is a self-report questionnaire used to measure the symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children between the ages of 6 and 17. Qualitative data were gathered through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with children, teachers, and single parents. The research interviews were conducted with 15 children from a sample of 379, 10 teachers and 10 single parents, who were selected through snowball sampling. Both data types were analyzed separately and integrated to understand the research questions, using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Findings indicated a significant relationship between the type and severity of early childhood trauma and various psychological symptoms. The study revealed that early childhood trauma has lasting effects on children's psychological wellbeing, mediated by cultural, socioeconomic, and resilience factors. The impact of trauma was 12.9% among children aged 4 to 6 years, 31.7% among those aged 7-12, and 55.4% among 13 to 17 years old children. The study recommends the development and implementation of early intervention programs to address the psychological needs of children who have experienced trauma. Further, increasing access to mental health services for both children and their caregivers is crucial, while engaging communities and local support networks are essential to creating safe and nurturing environments for the children while remaining mindful of cultural considerations