FAMILY RESILIENCE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON CHILDREN SOCIAL SKILLS ACQUISITION IN FAKO DIVISION SOUTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON
Abstract
Family resilience plays a critical role in shaping children’s social development by fostering nurturing and stable environments in which children feel secure, valued, and understood. Such environments are essential for the development of emotional competence and social skills. This study examined the influence of family resilience on social skills acquisition among children aged 9–12 years in selected primary schools in Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon. A sequential exploratory mixed-methods design was adopted, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected from a sample of 409 respondents, comprising parents, teachers, and pupils, selected through stratified random sampling, simple random sampling, and purposive sampling techniques. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis, while quantitative data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The Spearman’s rho correlation test was employed to test the study hypotheses. The findings revealed a strong and statistically significant positive relationship between family resilience and children’s social skills acquisition (r = 0.712, p < 0.05). This suggests that as families demonstrate greater adaptive capacity, effective communication, and improved stress management, children exhibit higher levels of social competence, including emotional regulation, interpersonal communication, and conflict resolution skills. The study concludes that strengthening family resilience is fundamental to enhancing children’s social development. It therefore recommends that families, educators, and stakeholders involved in child development initiatives intentionally create supportive environments that encourage open emotional expression, positive relationships, and adaptive coping strategies.
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