Abstract
Adolescence is a transition period where all the human doubts, hesitations and uncertainties appear. In Kenya, secondary school girls’ academic problems have been associated with adolescence crisis. In Western Region, particularly in Vihiga County a significant drop in school work, change in preferences or wishes to stop studying have been noted. The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors influencing adolescent crisis on girls’ academic performance and the implication of counseling in Vihiga County, Sabatia Sub-county. The objectives of this study were to investigate: the influence of adolescent sexual behavior on academic performance in girls’ secondary schools in Sabatia Sub-county; to establish the extent to which patterns of thought influence academic performance in girls secondary schools in Subatia Sub-County; to establish other problems some of the girls undergo that may influence their performance in secondary school in Subatia Sub-County, to examine the academic performance of girls secondary schools in mathematics and science subjects in Sabatia Sub-County, and establish the effectiveness of guiding and counseling services in assisting the adolescent girls in secondary schools and to examine the academic performance of girls secondary schools in mathematics and science subjects in Sabatia Sub-County. The theories that were used to explain the content include; psychoanalytic theory by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and Cognitive theory by Piaget Jean (1936). The target population and unit of analysis in this study were girls’ secondary schools, because they are best able to reflect the influence of adolescence crisis on academic performance. Data were collected by use of an interview schedule, consisting of both open and closed-ended items and an observation checklist. Quantitative data collected were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). It was subjected to descriptive statistics. Frequencies, and percentages were used to describe, summarize and organize data. Qualitative data collected were organized, coded and analyzed. It was used to supplement, explain and interpret quantitative data gathered from the same setting. Findings of this study served as a contribution in the area of education as a whole and in particular to girls’ secondary schools.
Highlights
Adolescent is the transition period between childhood and adulthood and the responsibilities and privileges are different from one stage to another [1]
The findings reveal that between 2001 and 2003 a significant proportion of high school girls were pregnant
Concerning, other problems related to adolescent in girls secondary schools in Vihiga County, Subatia Sub-County, adolescents who are least satisfied with their physical appearances have the lowest self-esteem [8]. This argument is in agreement with this study as the findings indicate that low self-esteem is attributed to the confusion and anxiety they experience as a result of social, emotional and physical psychological and behavioral changes that occur and this impacts on academic performance negatively
Summary
Adolescent is the transition period between childhood and adulthood and the responsibilities and privileges are different from one stage to another [1]. Adolescents are somewhere in between; on one hand they are still closely tied to their parents and on the other hand spending more and more time with their peer group. This stage involves not just the physical changes of a maturing body, and many cognitive, social and emotional changes. Studies conducted in various countries across the world on how adolescence crisis influences academic performance revealed mixed results. Some studies show that adolescence crisis has a positive influence while others indicate that it has a negative influence [2]
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