Counselor’s Perception, Self-Stigma, Informal Support and Self-Concealment as Correlates of Help Seeking Behaviour among Secondary School Students in Laikipia County, Kenya
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Date
2024-07
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Low help seeking behavior as evidenced by behavior problems such as student strikes, school arson, bullying and adolescent pregnancies among secondary school students has been an issue of concern in Laikipia West Sub County. The Ministry of Education (MoE) teamed up with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development to establish Life Skills subject in high schools, in order to improve guidance and counseling (G&C) functions. To help the MoE achieve its goal of enhancing G&C in secondary schools, understanding unresolved obstacles to finding psychological help will greatly aid teacher counselors' initiatives. In Kenya and in Laikipia West Sub County in particular few studies have been done on help seeking behavior in secondary schools an issue this study aimed to address. The research was based on the following objectives: to find out the relationship between perception of the counselor and help-seeking behavior among secondary school students, to find out the relationship between self-stigma and help-seeking behavior among secondary school students, to find out the relationship between informal support sources and help- seeking behavior among secondary school students and to find out the relationship between self-concealment and help- seeking behavior among secondary school students. Fishbein and Ajzen’s theory of reasoned action anchored this research. The researcher utilized correlational research design. The target population of this study consisted of form three students from 28 public secondary schools. The sample size of the study was 310 form three students from 10 schools which were sampled in all the categories of schools. The researcher used questionnaires to collect data from the sampled students. A pilot study was carried out to ascertain the validity of the instruments. Quantitative data gathered through a questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that there was a moderate positive correlation between perception of the counselor and help seeking behavior among the students, r (290) = .29, p < .05. There was a strong negative correlation between self-stigma and help seeking behavior, r (290) = -.58, p < .05. It was revealed that there was a moderate positive correlation between informal support sources and help-seeking, r (290) = .45, p < .05. There was a weak positive correlation between self-concealment and help-seeking, r (290) = .18, p < .05. The study recommended that teachers should sensitize students on the importance of counsellors to build a positive perception of school counselors to enhance help seeking behavior among the students. Teachers and school heads should always guide and support students when faced with challenges to reduce self-stigmatization in order to enhance help-seeking behavior. Teachers and all other stakeholders in the education sector should work towards building informal support sources to ensure that those who fear approaching counselors seek help from informal sources. There is a need for the students to be encouraged to seek help whenever they are faced with challenges.
Description
A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of Requirement for the Degree of Masters of Education in Guidance and Counseling, Kenyatta University, July, 2024
Supervisors:
1. Chrispus K. Wawire
2. Doyne K. Mugambi