Orientation programme influences emotional adjustment of first-year students in public universities in Kenya

Abstract

Orientation programme is a gate keeper to facilitate the integration of new students into the university environment. Student adjustment increases their likelihood of success and retention. However, various studies reveal that a huge number of first years leave university due to adjustment related challenges. Specifically, the study endeavoured toascertain the degree to which orientation programme influences emotional adjustment of first-year students in public universities in Kenya; the study used descriptive survey design and mixed methods research approach. The study was conducted in nine public universities in Kenya. Slovin’s formula and purposeful sampling technique were employed to obtain 479 respondents from the target population of 71,285. Data was collected using a questionnaire, focused group discussions, and in-depth interview schedule. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques that include Content Analysis, Means and Standard Deviation, Factor Analysis, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Post-hoc t-tests were utilized. Detailed analyses revealed that new-urban universities obtained the highest levels of adjustment followed by new-rural universities, then old-urban universities, and old-rural universities as the least on; how to manage homesickness, how to handle loneliness, how to manage emotions such as anger, stress, mood-swings, guilt, fear, and frustration, the dangers of experimenting with alcohol and other substances of abuse, and on how to handle personal and intrapersonal conflicts. New-rural universities on the other hand, obtained highest levels of adjustment followed by new-urban universities, then old-urban universities, and old-rural universities as the least on how to develop healthy relationships with people of either gender. The establishment of proper counselling and wellness centres in all institutions of higher learning equipped with proper psychological assessment tools and manned by fully qualified and experienced service providers.