Influence of Social Support on Meaning in Life among Boarding Public Secondary School Students in Mbeere South Sub-County, Kenya
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Date
2021-09-11
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
There is increase of poor mental health among students, which has led to increase of deviant behaviors and meaninglessness. Several studies have shown that, social support is essential for human growth and flourishing and, it positively contributes to meaning in life among different groups of people. The main aim of this study was to investigate the influence of social support on meaning in life among secondary school students in Mbeere South Sub- County. The study used quantitative paradigm of data collection and analysis. It assumed causal-comparative design. Proportionate Stratified Random Sampling Technique and simple random sampling was used to select 255 participants. The study was guided by Logotherapy by Viktor Frankl and self-determination theory by Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan. The data was collected using standardized Multidimensional Perceived Social Support and Meaning in Life questionnaires and was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study show that, the students have high total Social Support and Meaning in Life (M= 5.47, SD= 1.02; M= 5.81, SD= 0.96) respectively. Additionally, the finding of the study revealed that Total Social Support has a significant influence on Meaning in Life (ꞵ = 0.344, ρ = 0.00). However, there was no influence of social support on search for meaning in life. Suggesting that there are other factors that influence search for meaning in life among secondary school students. Hence, this study recommends that, need for qualitative study that would allow interrogation of respondents on some of the meanings and causes of behaviors, secondary schools to embrace training of peer mentors/mediators/ counsellors and school counsellors to use logotherapy.
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An Exploratory Study on the Psychological Experiences of Families of People Living with Schizophrenia under Forensic Care at Mathari Hospital, Nairobi County Kenya