| dc.description.abstract | Globally, reports on homosexuality trends among students in the same sex secondary schools
are on the rise. Owing to that, various psychosocial factors such as gender, education, peer
pressure, attitudes, religion and parenting styles have been linked to homosexuality. This study
assessed the influence of psychosocial factors on homosexuality in same sex boarding schools
in Kikuyu Sub County, Kiambu County. The study’s objectives were: to examine the
influence of peer pressure on homosexuality in same sex boarding secondary schools in
Kikuyu Sub-county, analyse the influence of parenting styles on homosexuality in same sex
boarding secondary schools in Kikuyu Sub-county, to evaluate the influence of religion on
homosexuality in same sex boarding secondary schools in Kikuyu Sub-county and the
influence of sexual abuse on homosexuality in same sex boarding secondary schools. The
social learning theory and social integration theory formed the main theories of this study. The
study target population was 1660 Form Three students and 6 teacher counsellors of the same
sex boarding secondary schools and A sample of 166 students and 6 teacher counsellors was
used. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The Form 3 students were selected
through proportional sampling and the teacher counsellors were selected by the use of a
simple random sampling method. Questionnaires were administered to the students to collect
quantitative data while interview guides were used to collect qualitative data from teacher
counsellors. The quantitative data was analysed by use of descriptive statistics such as
mean, standard deviation and cross tabulations and presented by use of figures and tables.
Qualitative data was analysed thematically and presented in verbatim. The students who
demonstrated homosexuality tendencies were approximately 7.2%. Most of the study
participants disagreed 67(40.4%) that their peers influenced the kinds of friends who they
kept. They were worried on how their decision was viewed by their peers and agreed that
their peers’ view of homosexuality determined the way they viewed it. majority 101(60.8%)
agreed that their parents were very strict and insensitive hence leading them to find
acceptance in same sex friends they did not have any close emotional attachment with their
same sex friend as their parents are firm but care about their emotional and physical needs
The findings show that among those identified with homosexuality, the key and significant
statements 25(15.1%) included that their friends influenced how they spent their leisure time.
. Approximately 67(40.4%) disagreed that children who are sexually molested ended up as
homosexuals while a slightly more than a third 59(35.5%) disagreed that they believed that a
rape victim is likely to become homosexual later in life. majority of the respondents
90(54.2%) agreed that their religion didn’t allow same sex relationships. They agreed with
the statement that most religions prohibit unnatural sex. Close to 76(45.8%) of the
respondents agreed with the statement that same sex relationships were termed as evil in their
religion. The study realized that same sex relationships were termed as evil in most religions
76(45.8%). Further, many religions dictated that one can only have a sexual relationship with
someone of the opposite gender 102(61.4%). There was significance in various statements
that respondents believed that a rape victim was likely to become homosexual later in life
(x 2 =11.47, p=0.089). In addition, early exposure to sexual acts leads to homosexuality
29(17.5%). Therefore, the study recommends that parents should adopt a parenting approach
where children are given the opportunity to express themselves and where their views are
listened to, so that they do not fall prey to peer influence, which could lead them to
homosexuality. The MOE should strengthen guidance and counselling departments by
having teachers in the department trained on basic counselling skills in order to offer students
psychosocial support that would enhance behaviour change in relation to child abuse and
strict parenting and thereby address homosexuality. | en_US |
