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Master of Arts in Counseling

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Start date: 2020Subject: search.filters.subject.Psychosocial factors

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    Influence of Psychosocial Factors on Suicidal Ideation Among Police Officer in Nyeri Central Sub-County, Kenya
    (KeMU, 2023-08) Muriuki, Stella Waky
    Due to various psychosocial factors some police officers develop suicidal thoughts and eventually commit suicide. A high rate of suicides by police officers persists in the National Police Service in recent years. This study therefore sought to examine the influence of psychosocial factors on suicidal ideations among police officers in Nyeri Central Sub-county, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to determine the influence of work environment on suicidal ideation, examine the influence of job control on suicidal ideation, analyse the influence of social support on suicidal ideation, assess the influence of coping style on suicidal ideation and establish the influence of depression on suicidal ideation. In this study, A mixed methods design was used. A total of 492 police officers working in Nyeri Central Sub County comprised the target population. A sample size of 221 respondents was used. To collect data, a structured self-administered questionnaire, a focus group discussion and an interview schedule were used to collect data from police officers, mental health workers and senior police officers respectively. In order to determine the reliability and validity of the instruments used in this research, a pilot test was conducted in Kirinyaga Central Sub County. Using SPSS v. 26 the collected data was encoded and input into a computer. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Utilizing inferential statistics such as chi-square and regression analysis, correlations between variables was determined. To analyze qualitative data content analysis using NVIVO software was used. Results of quantitative analysis were presented in form tables and figures including pie-charts and bar graphs while narration was used to present results of qualitative analysis. To analyze qualitative data content analysis was used and results were presented in form of narratives. Majority 167 (78.4%) of the respondents did not have suicidal ideation. The study found that 162 (76.1%) of the respondents indicated that their working environment was poor. Similarly, 169 (79.3%) of the respondents had no job control. The results of the study showed that 174 (81.6%) of the respondents had social support. It was found that 147 (69%) of the respondents had adaptive coping style. Majority 144(67.6%) of the respondents in the study had no depressive symptoms. Work environment (p=0.000), social support (p=0.011) and depression (p=0.000) were significant in the chi-square analysis. Work environment (p=0.000) was also significant in the regression analysis. The study concluded that work environment is the most influencing factor of suicidal ideation among police officers. Others included low social support and depression. It was recommended that the National Police Service ought to enhance the police officers working environment so as to reduce suicidal ideation and suicide. It was also recommended that senior officers should be encouraged to talk to junior officers even in matters outside work so as to cultivate a sense of support in the police force. The results of this study are important to police officers, their employer, psychologists and policy makers.
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    Influence of Psychosocial Factors on Women’s Stay in Abusive Marriages: A Case of Kiambu Sub-County, Kiambu County
    (KeMU, 2022-10) Njama, Ruth Wanjiku
    Globally, the victims of domestic violence are essentially women and who tend to experience more severe forms of violence than men. In some cultures, domestic violence is often seen as justified particularly when the fault is directed on the part of the woman. In such cases, women are abused with impunity leaving devastating physical and psychological wounds. Despite the devastating consequences on the victims, they remain trapped in their abusive situations. This notwithstanding, less attention has-been paid to religious beliefs, perceived control, self-concept and hopefulness and their influence on women staying in abusive marriages. This study sought to establish how the said psychosocial factors influenced women to stay in abusive marriages in Kiambu Sub-County, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to determine the influence of religious beliefs, perceived control, self-concept and hopefulness on women‟s stay in abusive marriages in Kiambu Sub-County. The learned helplessness theory and cycle of violence theory guided the study. The study employed a mixed method approach under descriptive design and was conducted in a half-way home „safe spaces‟ in Kiambu Sub-County. 38 women in abusive marriages taking refuge at the shelter were purposively sampled. They responded to questionnaires and an FGD guide. The research tools were piloted to ensure they were valid and reliable. Data analysis was done by use of descriptive statistics - mean, standard deviation, frequencies and percentages using SPSS v.25. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the selected psychosocial factors and women‟s stay in abusive marriages. Quantitative findings were presented in frequency tables, graphs and charts while the qualitative findings were analyzed thematically and presented in verbatim. The study established that the women‟s stay in abusive marriages was influenced by their religious beliefs as they agreed that they were not ready to quit their marriages due to their religious beliefs(mean = 4.27); their low perceived control as they argued that they would rather stay in abusive marriage than living alone (mean = 4.19) and did not want to mess up their families (mean = 4.11); their low self-concept as they accepted that most of the marriages had the same issues (mean = 4.36) and that they had no other option other than staying with their family (mean = 4.13); and their hopefulness for a positive change in their situation and/or in their husbands‟ abusive behaviour as they were hopeful better times lay ahead (mean = 4.27) and that they hoped that their husbands would change (mean = 4.12). The hypotheses tests results were that a statistically significant and positive relationship existed between the women‟s religious beliefs and their stay in abusive marriages (β = 0.712, p<0.05) as well as between the women‟s hopefulness and their stay in abusive marriages (β = 0.769, p<0.05). Further, a statistically significant and negative relationship existed between the women‟s perceived control and their stay in abusive marriages (β = -0.671, p<0.05) as well as between the women‟s self-concept and their stay in abusive marriages (β = -0.660, p<0.05). It was thus concluded that women‟s religious beliefs, perceived control, self-concept and hopefulness were psychosocial factors that had significant influence on their stay in abusive marriages in Kiambu Sub-County. The study recommends that efforts to empower women deal with abusive marriages should be enhanced at the individual and community levels. Other studies may build on insights derived from this review to further investigate this pertinent research subject.
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    Influence of Psychosocial Factors on Suicidal Ideation among Police Officers in Nyeri Central Sub-County, Kenya
    (KeMU, 2022-08) Muriuki, Stella Waky
    Due to various psychosocial factors some police officers develop suicidal thoughts and eventually commit suicide. A high rate of suicides by police officers persists in the National Police Service in recent years. This study therefore sought to examine the influence of psychosocial factors on suicidal ideations among police officers in Nyeri Central Sub-county, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to determine the influence of work environment on suicidal ideation, examine the influence of job control on suicidal ideation, analyse the influence of social support on suicidal ideation, assess the influence of coping style on suicidal ideation and establish the influence of depression on suicidal ideation. In this study, A mixed methods design was used. A total of 492 police officers working in Nyeri Central Sub County comprised the target population. A sample size of 221 respondents was used. To collect data, a structured self-administered questionnaire, a focus group discussion and an interview schedule were used to collect data from police officers, mental health workers and senior police officers respectively. In order to determine the reliability and validity of the instruments used in this research, a pilot test was conducted in Kirinyaga Central Sub County. Using SPSS v. 26 the collected data was encoded and input into a computer. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Utilizing inferential statistics such as chi-square and regression analysis, correlations between variables was determined. To analyze qualitative data content analysis using NVIVO software was used. Results of quantitative analysis were presented in form tables and figures including pie-charts and bar graphs while narration was used to present results of qualitative analysis. To analyze qualitative data content analysis was used and results were presented in form of narratives. Majority 167 (78.4%) of the respondents did not have suicidal ideation. The study found that 162 (76.1%) of the respondents indicated that their working environment was poor. Similarly, 169 (79.3%) of the respondents had no job control. The results of the study showed that 174 (81.6%) of the respondents had social support. It was found that 147 (69%) of the respondents had adaptive coping style. Majority 144(67.6%) of the respondents in the study had no depressive symptoms. Work environment (p=0.000), social support (p=0.011) and depression (p=0.000) were significant in the chi-square analysis. Work environment (p=0.000) was also significant in the regression analysis. The study concluded that work environment is the most influencing factor of suicidal ideation among police officers. Others included low social support and depression. It was recommended that the National Police Service ought to enhance the police officers working environment so as to reduce suicidal ideation and suicide. It was also recommended that senior officers should be encouraged to talk to junior officers even in matters outside work so as to cultivate a sense of support in the police force. The results of this study are important to police officers, their employer, psychologists and policy makers.