Effects of Counselling on Stress Management Among Student Mothers in Secondary Schools in Kimilili subcounty, Bungoma County, Kenya

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy has been recognized internationally as a major concern. Furthermore, it hampers the chance of a student mother from going back to school or to complete her education. In Kenya, teenage pregnancy impedes achievements in education of the girl child. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of counselling on stress management among student mothers. The study was guided by William Glasser’s Psychological Reality Theory on Maladaptive Behaviour. The study employed cross-sectional research design. The target population was 5,069 Form three and Form four female students from public secondary schools in Kimilili Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya. The study also targeted 23 school Guidance and Counselling teachers. The sample size table proposed by Krejcie & Morgan, 1970 was used to arrive at 381 female students from girls’ schools as well as mixed schools, 19 Guidance and Counselling teachers. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to gather qualitative and quantitative data. Instruments of data collection were piloted to establish their validity and reliability using Cronbach alpha value greater than 0.7 and indication of higher reliability. Both descriptive and inference statistics was analyzed using SPSS package version 23 and presentation done in frequencies and percentage tables. Descriptive data were analyzed using means, percentages and standard deviations, while inferential data were analyzed using Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient (r). The study findings indicated a significant positive strong relationship between counselling and stress management (r=0.836, p<0.000). The study concluded that counselling, have a significant effect on stress management among student mothers in public secondary schools in Kimilili sub-county, Kenya. Consequently, this study recommends that schools should prioritize and enhance counseling services for student mothers. Also, there is need for comprehensive sex education from parents, guidance, school and religious leaders.