INFLUENCE OF BEHAVIOR CHANGE COUNSELING ON ACADEMIC PROGRESSION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING OF ADOLESCENT STUDENT MOTHERS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NAKURU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Adolescent mothers struggle with self-acceptance because of their unfavorable motherhood status, which developed when they weren't ready for it. Their capacity to realize their own worth and acceptance may be impacted by this. This study thus, purposed to examine the influence of behavior change counseling on academic progression and psychological well-being of adolescent student mothers in public secondary schools in Nakuru County, Kenya. The study adopted two theories, self-efficacy and theory of planned behaviour. The study was guided by correlation research design. The target population was 1,788 adolescent student mothers in Nakuru County, from which a sample of 221 respondents was selected through purposive sampling method. Teacher counsellors in the respective schools also formed part of the study sample. Validity of the instruments was guided by the objective while reliability was enhanced by test- retest method where a Cronbach co-efficient alpha of 0.82 was established. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Data analysis was aided by SPSS (Version 26). Pearson correlation was used to test the relationship between stigma counseling and academic progression and psychological wellbeing on the other hand. Findings from the study indicated that that Behavior change counselling influenced academic progression of adolescent student mothers positively (r = .936). R square was found to be 0.917. This indicates that 91.7% of the variance in academic progression and psychological wellbeing of adolescent student mothers in public secondary schools could be explained by behaviour change counselling of adolescent student mothers. The study recommends the need to enhance behavioral counselling interventions to help in psychological wellbeing of adolescent mothers. It further recommends the need for school counselors to help adolescent mothers foster behavior change to avoid repeat pregnancies.