Influence of Resilience on Interpersonal Functioning among Orphaned Adolescent Students in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between self – efficacy and interpersonal nature among orphaned adolescent students in secondary schools in Nyatike Sub - County, Kenya. The study was informed by Self-efficacy theory adopted from Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory. Mixed Methods research design within Mixed Methods Approach was utilized and Concurrent Triangulation was used. The target population consisted of 1703 students, 17 teachers and 3 Focus Group Discussions from 57 public secondary schools in Nyatike Sub- County of Kenya. A sample size of 511 students, 17 teachers and 12 participants for Focus Group Discussions were obtained using stratified random sampling and purposive sampling techniques respectively. Reliability of instruments was determined through pilot study with 42 participants. The partici-pants in the pilot study were excluded from taking part in the actual study. Content and face validity of the instruments was ascertained by pilot testing of the questionnaires and also by seeking expert opinion of uni-versity lecturers experienced in formulation of research tools. Data was collected using closed-ended ques-tionnaires, in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic framework. The study findings revealed that there was moderate positive (r=0.370, p=0.01) correlation between self – efficacy and interper-sonal nature of orphaned adolescents. The study concluded that self-efficacy could be enhanced to foster better interpersonal functioning among orphaned adolescent students.

Self-efficacy, interpersonal nature, orphaned adolescent, secondary school

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