Moderating Role of Boundaries on Family Structure and adolescents’ Psychosocial Well-Being in Selected public high Schools in Ruiru Sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

Adolescent period is a critical stage of human development, characterized by theacquisition of life values and behaviours that can last a lifetime. The family is crucial in determining psychosocial development throughout this formative period. The purpose of this study was to investigate how family boundaries affect the relationship between family structure and adolescents' psychosocial well-being in selected public high schools in Ruiru Sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya. The objectives were: to establish the relationship between family subsystems and psychosocial well-being among adolescents in selected public High Schools in Ruiru Sub-County, to investigate the relationship between family hierarchy and adolescents' psychosocial well-being in selected public high schools in Ruiru Sub-County; and to examine the intervening effect of family boundaries in the relationship between family structure and adolescents' psychosocial well-being in public high schools in Ruiru Sub-County. The study was underpinned by two key theories: the Structural Family Theory and the Social Integration Theory. The study utilized correlational research design. The target population was 5,392 students of 10 public high schools in Ruiru Sub-County of Kiambu County, Kenya. From this, a stratified sample of 373 students was selected. Data was collected using the Family Assessment Device and Adolescent Mental Health Continuum-Short Form instruments. The data was analysed in SPSS version 31 using chi-square, correlation and linear regression techniques. Results showed that adolescents from two-parent families had the highest proportion of high psychosocial well-being (85.5%), followed by those from single-parent families (82.0%). In contrast, lower levels of psychosocial well-being were more common among adolescents from step-parent (30.0%) and extended families (35.3%). Chi-square tests showed these variations were statistically significant, χ²(3, N = 327) = 9.10, p=.028. Family hierarchies explained 5.4% of the variance in adolescent psychosocial well-being (R² = .054). However, only the family interactions dimension of family hierarchies emerged as a significant positive predictor (β = .192, p =.002). Approximately 4.9% of the variance in adolescents’ psychosocial well-being was explained by the combined influence of family structure, family boundaries, and their interaction. However, family boundaries were not a significant moderating factor(p>.05). A conclusion was drawn that well-functioning family structures play an important role in enhancing adolescents’ psychosocial well-being. Family hierarchies that promote shared power and decision-making positively influence adolescents’ psychosocial well-being. Family-based counselling and parenting workshops could help families, especially step-parent and extended ones, to manage relational challenges. In addition, schools should create platforms such as parent–adolescent forums and mentorship programs that encourage family engagement in adolescents’social and emotional development.