Factors Contributing to Low Self-Esteem among Students in Mixed Secondary Schools in Soweto, Embakasi East Constituency, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical stage in life which affects all people during this time. Self-esteem is the self-worth a person feels the value that people put on themselves. It affects the psychological and physical growth of adolescents. It is the time when adolescents find their identity as they negotiate through life. It is the time that they lay the foundation for their academic life and their future. Global view in collaboration with UNICEF and other Non-Governmental Organizations has played a role to ensure that school going adolescents have high esteem to promote school performance. As much as these bodies have worked to promote high self esteem, students continue to manifest low self-esteem in Soweto, Embakasi East Sub-County, Nairobi. Therefore, this study had two research questions: What are indicators of low self-esteem among students in mixed secondary schools in Soweto, Embakasi East County, Nairobi, Kenya and what are the factors contributing to low self-esteem among students in mixed secondary schools in Soweto, Embakasi East County, Nairobi, Kenya. The study employed exploratory research design. Through purposive sampling, 15 participants were selected to participate in the study. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that the indicators of low self-esteem among secondary school students in Soweto, Embakasi East Sub-County, Nairobi were lack of self-acceptance, sense of rejection and lack of confidence. Moreover, the results showed that the major factors contributing to low self-esteem among the secondary school were negative peer pressure, mistreatment, sense of rejection and poor performance. The study recommends the schools to strengthen guidance and counselling to help the students deal with indicators of low self-esteem and factors contributing to low self-esteem. Also, the Government may need to employ qualified counsellors and psychologists in secondary schools to help students towards handling problems that cannot be addressed by paraprofessionals. Finally, counsellors and psychologists need to sensitize parents and other caregivers on handling the factors leading to low self-esteem among their children other than leaving the responsibility alone with the educators. The study recommends future studies to use quantitative or mixed method approach in order to have in-depth understanding of self-esteem among secondary school students.