Levels of Family Functioning among University Students in Langata Constituency, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Family functioning plays a critical role in shaping students’ psychological wellbeing and their ability to cope with academic demands. University students who experience inadequate family support, poor communication, or ineffective family relationships may be more vulnerable to academic burnout. The study sought to determine the levels of family functioning among University students in Langata Constituency, Nairobi County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The Yamane formula (1967) was applied to determine the sample size of 244 participants from the study's target population of 1007. Data was collected using a combined questionnaire incorporating the Family APGAR Scale and the Family Assessment Device (FAD). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) with SPSS version 25. Results showed that 199 participants (81.6%) demonstrated moderate levels of family functioning, representing the largest proportion. Additionally, 23 participants (13.9%) exhibited low levels of family functioning, while 22 participants (9.4%) recorded high levels of family functioning. The study recommends to the institutions of higher learning to strengthen counseling and peer support programs in order to help the university students.