Summary of the Findings on link between academic expectations and psychological
suffering among adolescent pupils in Nairobi County
The researchers wanted to see if there was a link between academic expectations and
psychological suffering among adolescent pupils in Nairobi County, Kenya's private
secondary schools. The following research questions guided it: What kinds of psychological
suffering do adolescents in private secondary schools in Nairobi County, Kenya experience?
How do parents' academic expectations affect teenage psychological suffering in Nairobi
County, Kenya's private secondary schools? How do instructors' academic demands affect
teenage psychological suffering in Nairobi County, Kenya's private secondary schools? How
do self-academic aspirations in private secondary schools in Nairobi County, Kenya, lead to
psychological discomfort among adolescents? What techniques could be used in private
secondary schools in Nairobi County, Kenya, to assist adolescents in dealing with
psychological distress?
Ecological Systems Theory and General Strain Theory were used to base the research.
Despite the lack of literature on academic expectations and psychological suffering among
teenagers in private secondary schools, the study reviewed the existing literature throughout
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the globe, in Africa, regionally, and locally to meet the study's objectives. The researcher
discovered gaps in the literature, particularly the fact that prior studies had not focused on the
relationship between academic demands and the psychological discomfort that Kenyan
secondary school students were experiencing. In Nairobi County, Kenya, the study filled this
gap by conducting holistic research with teenagers in private secondary schools and guidance
and counseling staff. A convergent parallel mixed method research design was used by the
researcher. To provide meaning to the outcomes, both quantitative and qualitative data were
analyzed, interpreted, discussed, and integrated.
5.2. 1 Prevalence of Psychological Distress among Adolescents in Private Secondary
Schools.
The initial goal was to find out how common psychological distress was among adolescents in
Nairobi County's private secondary schools. Adolescents in private secondary schools were
found to be suffering from various sorts of psychological anguish, according to the study. The
majority of the teenagers (52%) experienced severe anxiety symptoms, 25.3 percent had
moderate stress symptoms, and 25.3 percent had moderate depression symptoms. Apart from
anxiety, tension, and depression symptoms, the qualitative data obtained from guidance and
counseling teachers revealed that a number of students were dealing with drug addiction, suicidal
ideations, low self-esteem, mood swings, eating disorders, and various forms of phobias. The
findings backed with a number of previous research that showed that adolescents around the
world were dealing with a variety of mental health concerns during their school years.
In relation to demographic features adolescents aged 16 years manifested more anxiety
symptoms compared to other age groups. On stress symptoms the most affected age was 16,
which indicated moderate stress and for depression symptom the highest mean was also for
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respondents aged 16 who manifested severe depression symptoms. Therefore it is clear in
relation with age the most affected respondents by psychological distress were aged 16 years. In
relation to gender the female adolescents were more affected by the three level of psychological
distress since they recorded a higher mean of 21.66 for anxiety symptoms, 23.41 for stress
symptoms and 16.812 for depression symptoms all through, in comparison to the mean of the
male adolescents which was a bit lower, 17. 88 for anxiety symptoms, 19.89 for stress symptoms
and 16.708 for depression symptoms.
The fathers educational level seem to have very little or no influence on the prevalence of
psychological distress on the adolescent, this is because the mean was evenly distributed on this
section with most of the respondents representing severe and extremely severe anxiety
symptoms, moderate stress symptoms and moderate depression in all levels. Equally mothers
educational level seem to have no influence on the prevalence of the three levels of
psychological distress because again the mean is fairly distributed in all level with most
respondents manifesting severe and extremely severe anxiety symptoms, moderate stress
symptoms and moderate depression symptoms. Therefore age and gender had significant
influence on the prevalence of psychological distress but parents‟ educational level has not
significant influence on the same.
5.2.2 Parents’ Academic Expectations and Psychological Distress among Adolescents in
Private Secondary Schools.
The second research objective worked to establish if the psychological distress that the
adolescents experienced was as a result of parents‟ academic expectations. The result of current
study as indicated in relation to demographics of age, gender and parents‟ educational level, all
the respondents strongly agreed that their parents expected them to perform in a certain way.
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However the parents‟ academic expectation was not in any way influenced by the demographic
features mention. Again parents‟ academic expectations had a weak positive relationship with
anxiety, stress symptoms and depression symptoms. But when linear regression was carried out
to estimate the effects of influence in relation to teachers‟ academic expectations and self-
academic expectations variables, parents‟ academic expectation had a positive influence on
anxiety symptoms but negative influence on stress and anxiety symptoms.
