PHD-Department of Psychology

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Effectiveness of Counselling Services on Academic Performance and Retention Rate of Undergraduate Students in Selected Universities in Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2020-08) Nyutu, Jane Gathoni
Counselling is an essential pillar in student support services. However, there is a shortage of empirical data on the effectiveness of counselling services in enhancing academic performance and retention rate in all universities in Kenya. The study focused on establishing the effectiveness of counselling services in improving academic performance and retention rate of undergraduate students in universities in Kenya by employing the common factor and self-determination theories. The study used a quasi-experimental design and phenomenological design. The target population was 514 first-year undergraduate students taking bachelors of medicine and surgery programme and 6 counsellors in two public universities in Kenya. The accessible sample population was 140 students. Purposive sampling was used to select the two public universities for the study. Simple Random sampling was used to obtain a sample size of 104 students. All the 6 counsellors were incorporated in the study as respondents. Data was collected using observation, questionnaires, and focus group discussions. The independent variable in this study was counselling services, while the dependent variables were academic performance and retention rate. Validity was ensured by comparing the first semester results with results of the second semester to counter the testing threat. The reliability of the instruments ranged from Alpha indexes 0.76 to 0.91. The researcher trained four research assistants who helped in administering the research instruments to the participants. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics, namely frequencies, percentages and inferential statistics (2-way ANOVA) with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-20). Hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The qualitative data was analysed thematically according to the objectives of the study. The study found that the status of counselling services in the two selected universities was favourable with adequate counselling rooms, adequate basic facilities, appropriate location and accessibility to counselling services. There were statistically significant differences between the experimental group and control group means as determined by a two-way ANOVA (F (1,99) = 4.470, p = .037), revealing that counselling services significantly influences students’ retention rate. Counselling equipped students with knowledge and skills that helped them deal with developmental issues that often interfered with their studies hence higher retention rate. On academic performance, the study revealed that students who seek counselling services perform academically better than those who do not as determined by a two-way ANOVA (F (1,96) = 4.441, p = .038). Counselling facilitated the acquisition of problem-solving and study skills, including time management that enabled the students to do well in their studies. Despite the availability of counselling services, not many students benefit from the service due to challenges such as high student enrolment against thin counselling staff and negative attitude towards seeking counselling help due to peer influence. Based on the findings, the study recommends that psycho-education be integrated as a mainstream programme in counselling services; more students should be enrolled in the psycho-education programme.
Effects of vicarious trauma on professional development among teachers in educational assessment and resource Centres in Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2023) Wambua, Solomon M.; Merecia Ann; Sirera John Oteyo
Professional development is an important undertaking for teachers who work in Educational Assessment and Resource Centres because it enhances their competencies. However, their work environment expose them to vicarious trauma which may interfere with their professional development. The current study sought to investigate the effects of vicarious trauma on professional development among teachers in Educational Assessment and Resource Centres in Kenya. The objectives of the study were to; establish the extent of effects of vicarious trauma among the teachers, find out the effects of vicarious trauma on opportunities for promotion xiii among the teachers, investigate the effects of vicarious trauma on academic progression of the teachers, establish the effects of vicarious trauma on chances for capacity building among the teachers, and explore strategies used by the teachers to minimize effects of vicarious trauma on professional development. The study was based on the Constructivist Self-Development Theory and the Functional Descriptive Theoretical Model. The target population was the Educational Assessment and Resource Centres in Kenya. Census and convenience sampling techniques were used to select respondents. Data was collected through a questionnaire and an interview guide. Quantitative data was analyzed using both descriptive and chi-square statistical techniques while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that all teachers in Educational assessment and resource centres experienced vicarious trauma which interfered with professional development. The study further revealed significant relationship between; vicarious trauma and opportunities for promotion, and vicarious trauma and academic progression. The study recommended for provision of trauma education for teachers and managers in Educational Assessment and Resource Centres as means of safeguarding teachers against the effects of secondary exposure such as vicarious trauma.
Relationship between attitudes towards career counselling and uptake of career counselling services among students in universities in Nairobi city County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2023) Opiyo-Newa, Elsie Nyadoi; Beatrice Kathungu; Christine Wasanga
Despite the importance of career counselling, there is evidence that a marginal number of student’s use career counselling services. Increasing uptake of career counselling could be a critical factor in enhancing employability and wellbeing of individuals and society at large. It has been suggested that attitudes might be a factor in depressing uptake of career counselling programmes. However, there is scant empirical data on the relationship between attitudes towards career counselling and uptake of career counselling services in Kenya. The study focused on establishing the relationship between attitudes towards career counselling and uptake of career counselling services among students in selected universities in Nairobi City County, guided by John Krumboltz’s Social Learning theory of Career Counselling and Albert Bandura’s Social Learning theory. The study used a correlational research design. The target population was 4,834 fourth year undergraduate university students and four career counsellors purposively selected from universities in Nairobi City County. The sample size was 369 students. Stratified random sampling was used to select four universities for the study. Simple random sampling was used to obtain a sample of 369 students from the selected universities. Purposive sampling was used to select fourth year students. Purposive sampling was used to select the career counsellors for inclusion in the study as they were deemed important because they closely interacted with students during their work and were likely to have expert opinion regarding career counselling. Data was collected using a questionnaire and focus group discussions for students, as well as interviews with the career counselors. Attitudes towards career counseling were assessed using the Attitude towards Career Counseling Scale, while the uptake of career counseling services was measured using the Uptake of Career Counseling Services Scale. The internal consistency of the instruments was determined through the calculation of Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient based on the piloted questionnaires. Quantitative data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 24, employing descriptive statistics such as frequencies and means, as well as inferential statistics. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) was utilized to examine the relationship between attitudes and the uptake of career counseling services. The findings revealed positive attitudes towards career counselling and low uptake of career counselling services. The findings also revealed a significant positive but weak relationship between attitudes and uptake of career counselling services at r (360) = 0.159, p = 0.003 for uptake in terms of frequency of utilization and r (360) = 0.200, p = 0.000 for uptake in terms of perceived usefulness. The study recommended creation of awareness programmes for increased uptake and need for well-stipulated rules and regulations that support career counselling initiatives. The study also recommended comprehensive, multi-sectoral, collaborative approach of all stakeholders in the management of career programmes for enhancement of uptake of career counselling services in universities.
Relationship between Gender Roles and Marital Stability among Couples in Selected Counties of Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2022) Pinto, Hubert; Beatrice Kathungu; Christine Wasanga
There is increased evidence of marital conflict, instability, separation and divorce both globally and in Kenya. There is a possibility that this could be attributed to changes in perceptions and performance of gender roles by the partners in a marriage arising from the impact of global influences on family socialization processes. This study sought to explore the relationship between gender roles (perceptions and performances) and marital stability among couples in selected counties in Kenya. The study used a correlational research design and was guided by the Family Systems approach. The target population was 6.83 million couples in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu counties of Kenya. Multistage sampling that included stratified, convenient and purposive sampling was used to draw a sample of402couples for the study. Data was collected using researcher developed questionnaires measuring gender roles and marital stability. Feedback from the pilot study was used to strengthen the validity and reliability of the instruments. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse quantitative data. Spearman rank order correlation was used to determine the nature of the relationship between gender roles (perceptions and performance) and marital stability. The findings showed that there was a significant weak positive relationship between gender role perception and marital stability, rs(804) = .393, p< .05.Further, there was a significant moderate positive relationship between gender role performance and marital stability, rs(804) = .414, p<.05.These findings point to the need to incorporate gender role awareness into premarital and marital counselling by family counsellors and therapists as well as in the development of strategies by key stakeholders to strengthen marital stability among couples in Kenya.
Relationship Between Memory of Trauma and Selected Psychobiosocial Constructs among Adolescents with Physical Disabilities in Kiambu County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2021) Andolo, Evelyn Khazika; Merecia Sirera; Christine Wasanga
Adolescents with physical disability experience trauma causing events which imprint heavily into their memory. Memory of trauma may cause one to relive the event therefore evoking the feelings they experienced during the actual trauma. Few studies have been carried out on the memories of trauma and its effect on psychobiosocial constructs especially among Adolescents with Physical Disability. The purpose of this study is to establish the relationship between memory of trauma and selected psychobiosocial constructs (self-esteem, social competence, dissociation and somatization). Psychoanalytic and psychobiological theory guided this study. Mixed methods design comprising of phenomenology and correlation was employed for the research. The study was carried out in a national institution that hosts adolescents with physical disability from all counties in Kenya. The sample was drawn using purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. A total of 129 adolescents with physical disability and two counselor teachers participated in the study. Data collection was conducted using questionnaires with standard tools such as the Rosenberg self-esteem test (Rosenberg, 1997) and Dissociation event scale (Carlson, 1944), Trauma indicator, Impact of trauma scale, somatization scale, social competence scale interviews and two focus group discussions to find out the relationship between memory of trauma and psychobiosocial constructs. An interview schedule was used for the teachers. Descriptive, correlations and thematic approaches were used for data analysis. The qualitative analysis was done thematically. Findings were presented using tables and qualitative data was transcribed presented verbatim. Results showed that all participants experienced at least one trauma causing events such as physical and sexual abuse, loss of loved ones, life threatening natural phenomena, road traffic accidents, sudden inability to carry out activities of daily living and amputation. Triggers of memory of trauma were reported as either external or internal loci. There was a relationship between Memory of trauma and selected psychobiosocial constructs as seen in the following findings: A positive significant relationship between memory of trauma and somatization; internal loci of memory triggers and somatization r (129) = .239 p = .006. Memory of trauma with dissociation had a significant positive relation for internal loci of memory of trauma r (129) = .256 p = .003. A negative relationship was noted between internal loci trigger of memory of trauma and social competence. Further correlation between impact of memory of trauma and psychobiosocial constructs were all significant, inverse direction and of average magnitude, except for somatization which had a positive correlation. The findings therefore emphasize the need to focus on impact of memory of trauma when supporting Persons with Physical disability because it influences the psychobiosocial constructs significantly. A model for multidimensional approach in mitigating effects of trauma was proposed. The model proposed inclusion of trained support providers so that Adolescent with physical disability are assisted to manage memory of trauma. Screening for trauma and impact of memory of trauma was recommended so as to identify the affected adolescent with physical disability so as to support them in the healing process
Relationship between Memory of Trauma and Selected Psychobiosocial Constructs Among Adolescents with Physical Disabilities in Kiambu County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2021) Andolo, Evelyn Khazika; Merecia Sirera; Christine Wasanga
Adolescents with physical disability experience trauma causing events which imprint heavily into their memory. Memory of trauma may cause one to relive the event therefore evoking the feelings they experienced during the actual trauma. Few studies have been carried out on the memories of trauma and its effect on psychobiosocial constructs especially among Adolescents with Physical Disability. The purpose of this study is to establish the relationship between memory of trauma and selected psychobiosocial constructs (self-esteem, social competence, dissociation and somatization). Psychoanalytic and psychobiological theory guided this study. Mixed methods design comprising of phenomenology and correlation was employed for the research. The study was carried out in a national institution that hosts adolescents with physical disability from all counties in Kenya. The sample was drawn using purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. A total of 129 adolescents with physical disability and two counselor teachers participated in the study. Data collection was conducted using questionnaires with standard tools such as the Rosenberg self-esteem test (Rosenberg, 1997) and Dissociation event scale (Carlson, 1944), Trauma indicator, Impact of trauma scale, somatization scale, social competence scale interviews and two focus group discussions to find out the relationship between memory of trauma and psychobiosocial constructs. An interview schedule was used for the teachers. Descriptive, correlations and thematic approaches were used for data analysis. The qualitative analysis was done thematically. Findings were presented using tables and qualitative data was transcribed presented verbatim. Results showed that all participants experienced at least one trauma causing events such as physical and sexual abuse, loss of loved ones, life threatening natural phenomena, road traffic accidents, sudden inability to carry out activities of daily living and amputation. Triggers of memory of trauma were reported as either external or internal loci. There was a relationship between Memory of trauma and selected psychobiosocial constructs as seen in the following findings: A positive significant relationship between memory of trauma and somatization; internal loci of memory triggers and somatization r (129) = .239 p = .006. Memory of trauma with dissociation had a significant positive relation for internal loci of memory of trauma r (129) = .256 p = .003. A negative relationship was noted between internal loci trigger of memory of trauma and social competence. Further correlation between impact of memory of trauma and psychobiosocial constructs were all significant, inverse direction and of average magnitude, except for somatization which had a positive correlation. The findings therefore emphasize the need to focus on impact of memory of trauma when supporting Persons with Physical disability because it influences the psychobiosocial constructs significantly. A model for multidimensional approach in mitigating effects of trauma was proposed. The model proposed inclusion of trained support providers so that Adolescent with physical disability are assisted to manage memory of trauma. Screening for trauma and impact of memory of trauma was recommended so as to identify the affected adolescent with physical disability so as to support them in the healing process
Relationship between Psychological Climate and Organizational Commitment among Academic Staff of Public Universities in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2022) Kagendo, Kimotho, Susan; Christine Wasanga; Merecia Sirera
Psychological climate has been conceptualized as an individual’s perception relating to overall view of the psychological work environment. Researchers have revealed that psychological climate has a huge covariate of occupation practices, such as organizational commitment. On the other hand, organizational commitment has been defined as the strength of an employee’s identification and involvement in an organization. In the recent past, Kenyan public universities have faced challenges such as industrial strikes, financial shortfalls and high turnover of academic staff, thus the need to find out the psychological climate of Kenyan public universities. The present study was therefore designed to study the relationship between psychological climate and organizational commitment among academic staff of public universities in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study objectives included the levels of psychological climate, the levels of organizational commitment, the relationship between psychological climate and organizational commitment as well as how demographic characteristics moderate organizational commitment. The study was based on the Theory of Organizational Climate and the Three-Component Model of Commitment. The study adopted a correlational research approach. It was conducted among the academic staff of the five public universities (UON, KU, TUK, MMU and CUK) in Nairobi City County. The targeted population was the 5182 academic staff working in the public universities. Multistage sampling process was used to select a sample of 365 academic staff that participated in the study. A self-administered questionnaire with four subsections was used to collect data. Section A comprised the demographic data; Section B the Campus Climate Survey; Section C the challenges the academic staff face; Section D the Three-Component Organizational Commitment Questionnaire. The two scales have a reliability value of 0.79 and 0.81 respectively. Approval for research was sought from Kenyatta University Graduate School. A research permit was sought from NACOSTI. Data collected were analysed using SPSS version 23, both descriptive (mean, median, mode and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and regression analysis). The findings indicated a moderate psychological climate level of 111.7 with a maximum of 165 and a minimum of 35; and a moderate organizational commitment level of 104.2 with a maximum of 140 and a minimum of 55. In addition, the psychological climate had a moderate positive correlation to organizational commitment at (r (365) = .365, p < .001). On psychological climate, job autonomy had the highest mean at 15.73, while rewards and recognition had the lowest mean at 11.97. Affective commitment was the highest scored organizational commitment component at a mean of 31.75, while continuance commitment was the least scored at a mean of 29.45. The marital status of the participants had a significant positive correlation to organizational commitment while the age of the participants had a significant negative correlation to organizational commitment. Based on research findings, the recommendations made included having universities developing of lucrative investment programmes that would boost their income and subsequently strive to improve the psychological climate of their academic staff, for example, their remuneration and incentives. Further research was recommended in private universities as well as on other work behaviours such as organizational citizenship, turnover.
Secondary traumatic stress among young people orphaned by AIDS in Kenya: prevalence, severity and predictors
(2011-08-15) Mumah, Solomon Juma; Nwoye, A.; Kigen, E. M.; Muga, Richard O.
Recent advances in Psychological research suggests that family, friends and professionals are susceptible to developing traumatic stress symptoms from being empathetically engaged with victims of traumatic events. The phenomenon of learning about another's traumatic ordeal, and in the process, experiencing traumatic stress is called Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS), and the condition of AIDS orphans is suspect to this. Many are dispossessed of their parents' property and must contend not only with the normal stress, dissatisfaction or work, but also with the emotional and personal feelings for their parent(s) and suffering sibling(s). This study assessed prevalence and extent of severity of STS among young people orphaned by AIDS, thereby identifying factors that predispose them to STS. Some 309 orphans from Rachuonyo District in Kenya participated in the study. The single cross-sectional survey adopted the questionnaire as the main tool for primary data collection. Quantitative data were collected using the STS test at three levels: burnout (BO), compassion satisfaction (CS) and compassion fatigue (CF). These were analyzed quantitatively. Based on results, orphans exhibited at least 17 of the 30 symptomatologies of STS investigated at a level that is comparable to people who would seek treatment for those symptoms. On the overall, more males (57.7%) than females (42.3%) exhibited symptoms of STS. The respondents also reported experiencing moderate levels of risk for BO (mean=25.6616), high levels of potential for CS (mean=27.7374), and high levels of risk for CF (mean=29.940). Greatest risk for STS was associated with BO and CF whereas the least risk for STS was associated with CS. Average scores of the participants were significantly higher on all the three sub-scales while the observed differences were statistically significant at a = 0.01 (2-tailed); and at a = 0.05 (2-tailed) (p<0.001). Regarding the relationship between STS symptoms and the development of STS, the study established that CF was more strongly correlated to STS (correlation=0.875; p<0.001) [a = 0.01 (2-tailed); and at a=0.05 (2-tailed)] than 130, which was more strongly correlated to STS (correlation=0.633; p<0.001) than CS (correlation=-0.148; p<0.05). Further relationships were established between STS and sex of the respondents (F=4.947; p= 0.027), level of formal education attained (F=3.013; p=0.034), number of years of paternal orphanhood (F=4.812; p=0.003), number of hours per day spent in caregiving (F=9.827; p= 0.000), person(s) to whom such care was rendered (F=9.202; p=0.000) and the involvement with household chores (F=3.348; p=0.021). The major predictors of STS were established, thus: sex (t=-2.083; p=0.045), level of formal education attained (t=-2.019; p=0.051) and number of years of paternal (t=2.199; p=0.035) and maternal (t=2.702; p=0.011) orphanhood. Thus, there is need for additional studies about the process of how some orphans develop STS symptoms while others appear not to be in distress. Research on emotional expression will offer important conceptual understandings by providing evidence to support the deleterious effect that orphanhood-realted emotions have on overall well-being of AIDS orphans. Research to help develop theory related to STS will be worthwhile in addition to a longitudinal study to help clarify the cumulative effects of STS

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