Association Between Family Dysfunction and Dating Relationship Patterns Among Young Adults in Campus- a Case of Christian Union Members in the University of Nairobi Main and Kikuyu Campuses

Abstract

The family function plays a critical role in determining one’s psychological and behavioural state (Akrami & Kazemi-Zahrani, 2020). A number of studies have been done to establish the possible link between family of origin function and academic performance, romance related violence between partners, and child delinquency. However, few studies have established the associations between dysfunctional family type and the dating relationship patterns among young adults in campus and specifically among members of Christian Unions. As such, this study sought to establish the association between family dysfunction and the dating relationship patterns among young adults in campus- a case of Christian Union members in the University of Nairobi Main and Kikuyu campuses. The study objectives were to establish the association between parental conflicts, alcoholism, separation/divorce and dating relationship patterns among young adults in Christian Unions (CUs) in the University of Nairobi Main and Kikuyu campuses. The research employed descriptive survey design and data was collected using questionnaire. The analysis of data was done using SPSS version 26. From this, descriptive statistics like frequencies, percentages, averages, and the Chi-Square test (at 95% level of significance) was done to determine the association between family dysfunction (parental alcoholism, parental conflict, and parental separation/divorce) and dating relationship patterns. On parental divorce/separation, the study established no statistical significance in the association between parental divorce/separation and dating relationship patterns. However, there was a noted variance on individuals’ doubt for their partners’ love (an aspect of relationship anxiety). Parental alcoholism had no statistically significant association with dating relationship patterns such as dating relationship status, period in the relationship, number of partners dated before, relationship satisfaction, and commitment in relationship. The study also showed no statistical significance in association between parental conflict and the following dating relationship patterns; dating relationship status, period in the relationship, number of partners dated before, and commitment in relationship.