Differentiation of Self and Divorce: Perceptions of Adults in Kisumu East Constituency

In Kenya, national divorce rates rose from 10.5% in 2015 to 17.7% in 2020. The recent national statistics recorded 1,341,217 registered marriages, with 9.3% of women aged 15–49 years divorced or separated. Furthermore, the latest census data documented 212,972 total divorce cases, including 1,304 (0.6%) in Kisumu East Constituency. Bowen’s concept of differentiation of self explains how marital relationships, emotional processes, and divorce reflect human functioning within emotional units. However, gaps persist regarding how adults in Kisumu East Constituency perceive this role. Consequently, this study examined adults’ perceptions of how differentiation of self influences divorce in Kisumu East Constituency, focusing on assessing the role of intellectual functioning in marital dissolution. Guided by Bowen’s concept of differentiation of self, Yamane’s formula, and a quantitative survey design, the study targeted 465,624 adults in Kisumu East Constituency, chosen for its high population density and divorce rates within Kisumu County. Simple random sampling yielded 156 participants (78 females, 78 males). Quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive data were gathered using a questionnaire, analysed using IBM SPSS (Version 33), and presented in summary tables. The instrument was validated by experts, pilot-tested (n = 16), and demonstrated strong reliability (r = .78; α ≈ .80). Descriptive statistics served as the interpretative framework. Subscale standard deviations ranging between 1.11 and 1.63 confirmed satisfactory data variability. The findings revealed that participants perceived the differentiation of self as a substantial factor influencing divorce rates in the constituency. This study offers crucial empirical data, recommending that couples, counsellors, and scholars integrate interpersonal functioning with the principles of differentiation of self.