Psychological Dispositions of Depression and Academic Performance of Learners with Visual Impairment in Selected Special Primary Schools in Kenya
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Date
2019
Authors
Owaga, Atieno B
Musila, Nzoka S
Abuom, Tom
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI)
Abstract
The aim of this study was to establish the influence of
depression levels on academic performance of learners with
visual impairment. A descriptive survey study design was used
to carry out the study in special public primary schools for
learners with visual impairment in Kenya, namely: St. Francis
Primary school- Kapenguria, St. Oda primary, Thika primary
and Kibos primary school. The study group consisted of 4 head
teachers, 5 class teachers, 2 teachers in charge of guidance and
counseling and 98 learners with visual impairment were selected
for the study. Data was collected through questionnaires for
class teachers and students with visual impairment, and
interview schedules for the head teachers and teachers of
guidance and counseling. The collected data was cleaned, coded
and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and
percentages with the aid of SPSS version 21.0. Quantitative data
was presented using tables, bar-graphs and pie-charts. Mean
and standard deviation were also used to describe the
distribution of depression dispositions of learners with visual
impairment. Qualitative data were categorized into patterns,
presented using texts and discussed. Findings revealed that both
male and female learners with total blindness and that had high
level of depression were more affected by academic performance
than those with low vision. The study concluded that learners
with impaired vision were less able to perform activities of daily
living, less mobile, more isolated, suffer higher rates of
depression and had a reduced overall quality of life when
compared to their sighted counterparts. The study
recommended that the Government should ensure that special
schools for learners with visual impairments have professional
counselors who will assist the learners with VI in dealing with
their emotional and behavioural disorders. The findings of the
study may be useful to the school administrators, doctors,
teachers and other paraprofessionals in special needs education
in executing measures that would moderate the possible negative
effects of depression
Description
Article
Keywords
Depression, Academic performance, Learners with Visual Impairment
Citation
Owaga, A. B., Musila, N. S., & Abuom, T. Psychological Dispositions of Depression and Academic Performance of Learners with Visual Impairment in Selected Special Primary Schools in Kenya.