Mwangwale, Philip Mbogho2025-03-272025-03-272024-11https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/29864A Research Project Submitted to the School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology of Kenyatta University, November 2024. Supervisor Eunice N. MvunguAdolescents with hearing impairments are often believed to experience low self-esteem due to multiple factors. Perceived lack of social support is one predictor of low self-esteem among these adolescents. This study aimed to explore the relationship between perceived lack of social support and the self-esteem of adolescents with hearing impairment in Treeside Secondary School in Nairobi County, Kenya. Specifically, it sought to determine the association between perceived lack of social support and self-esteem among this demographic. The research was guided by the following objectives: to assess the level of self-esteem among these adolescents; to investigate the relationship between appraisal, emotional, and companionship support from family and the self-esteem of adolescents with hearing impairment; to explore the link between informational/tangible support from close friends, significant others, and teachers, and the self-esteem of these adolescents; and to examine the association between perceived belonging and esteem support from peers, life coaches, and therapists, and the self-esteem of adolescents with hearing impairment. The study employed a correlational research design to establish connections between variables and was conducted in Nairobi City, involving a purposive sample of 62 participants. Two theories underpinned the study: the plasticity Hypothesis of Self-Esteem and Relational Regulation Theory. The Rosenberg Scale for Self-Esteem and the Interpersonal Self-Evaluation List (ISEL) were utilized to collect data. SPSS version 21 was used for data analysis, and the relationship between variables was determined using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. Results revealed that adolescents with hearing impairment had an average self-esteem score of 16.56, calculated based on Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale. Moreover, perceived appraisal support, belonging support, and tangible support significantly predicted low self-esteem among these adolescents. The study found a correlation between low self-esteem and perceived social support. Policymakers should formulate policies for individuals with hearing impairment and other disabilities that foster appraisal support, belonging support, and tangible support.enThesis