Relationship Between Complicated Grief and Antisocial Behaviours Among Children: A Case of Selected Public Primary Schools in Nairobi County, Kenya
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Date
2024-08-14
Authors
Priscillah Ndunge Omucheni
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
PAC University
Abstract
The inability of children to comprehend and process death due to factors like chronological age, attachment of the child to the deceased, nature of death, and family support may lead to delayed or prolonged grief processes and eventually complicated grief (CG). Complicated grief in a child’s life can affect his/her social and cognitive functioning manifesting in antisocial behaviours. This study aimed to determine the relationship between complicated grief and antisocial behaviours among children aged 10-13 years who had lost a loved one in selected public primary schools in Nairobi County, Kenya. To achieve this goal, the study had four objectives namely; to determine the prevalence of complicated grief among children who had lost loved ones, to find out antisocial behaviours that are more prevalent among children with complicated grief, to determine the relationship between complicated grief and antisocial behaviours among children who had lost loved ones and to find out intervention measures that are used to support children with complicated grief. This study was guided by Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory and Attachment Theory. Multistage sampling, purposive sampling, inclusion, and exclusion criteria were used to select 259 pupils aged 10-13 years who had lost a loved one to participate in the study. Purposive sampling was also used to select 22 class teachers of the bereaved pupils who participated in the study. The study employed a convergent mixed-method design. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires (SDQ, ICG, and STAB) and interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS Version 25.0. Qualitative data was gathered via interviews and analyzed through thematic analysis. Pearson coefficient correlation was used to determine the relationship between complicated grief and antisocial behaviours while regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis. The findings were presented as tables, pie charts, and graphs. The findings indicated that the prevalence of complicated grief was 26.1% while the most prevalent antisocial behaviour was social aggression with an aggregated mean of 3.01. There was a positive relationship between complicated grief and antisocial behaviour with an R-value of 0.211. Regression analysis showed that there was a statistically significant relationship of 0.018 between complicated grief and antisocial behaviours. The most used intervention measure was counseling at 79.16%. However, the study found that only 3 out of 22 teachers were trained counselors. Therefore, the study recommends that the Ministry of Education introduce a school-based counseling program incorporating grief intervention techniques