The Problem of Stress in Primary Education Centers, Teachers Awareness and Intervention Measures Adopted by School. A Case Study of Five Primary Education Centres Kanyuambora Zone Eastern Pro (#59106)

ABSTRACT This study assessed the problem of stress in primary education centers with a focus on the following; establishing the prevalence of stress, identifying the common stressors of children in primary_ education centers, assessing the teachers knowledge to deal with stressed children and the intervention measures adopted by schools to help stressed children. The study was undertaken in Kanyuambora zone which is in Mbeere north district Eastern province Kenya. The population used for this study included 22 primary education teachers. A questionnaire was designed to help collect relevant data on stressors of children. The following were discovered during the study; Children had displayed symptoms of stress and therefore the problem existed in primary education centers: the teachers however did not have adequate knowledge and skills to help the children cope with stress and schools had tried to put intervention measures in place to help children cope with stress although they were not being utilized by the teachers. The following were recommended; To train teachers on how to handle learners with stress.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................ i

APPROVAL ................................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................ ................................... iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................. v

LIST 0 F TABLES .................................................................................................... viii

LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................... ix

ABSTRACT ......................... 0 00 .0 ..................................................... 0 .. . 0 0 0 00 0 0 .... 00000 00 . ......... X

CHAPTER ONE .......................................................................................................... !

1.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................... l

1. 1 Background of the study ..................................... ............................................ !

1.2 Statement of the problem ........................................................................ ........ 2

1.3 Purpose .................................................................................................. ................ 2

1.4 Specific objectives .............................................................................................. 3

1.5 Research questions ........................................................................................... 3

1. 6 Scope ........................................................... ........................................................... 4

1.1 Significance of the study ................................................................................. 4

CHAPTER TWO ......................................................................................................... 5

LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................... 5

2.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 5

2 . 1 The theoretical I Framework of stress .......................................................... 5

CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................. 13

RESEARCH METHOFOLOGY ...... , ........ , ....... , .................. , ..... , ................ , .. , ....... 13

3. 0 Introduction ................................. ...................................................................... 13

3.1 Research design ...................................... .......................................................... 13

3.3 Study population .............................................................................................. 13

v

3.4 Sample size a nd sampling techniques ...................................................... l4

3.5 'I'ypes of data collected ................................................................................... 14

3.6 Instrumentation ................................................................................................ l4

3.7 Procedure of data collection ......................................................................... 15

3.8 Data processing and analysis .. .................................................................... 15

3.9 Limitation of the study ................................................................................... 15

CHAPTER FOUR ..................................................................................................... 16

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ............... 16

4 .0 Introduction ............................................................. .......................................... 16

4 . 1 Characteristics of respondents which h ave a bearing on their

ability to identify and help children to cope ................................................... 16

4. 1.1 Teachers qualification ................................................................................. 16

4.2 The prevalence of stress in young children in Kenya ....... .......... ......... 18

4 .2.1 Children who have been directly affected by stressors .................... 18

4.2.2 Severity of stress in children .................................................. .................. 20

4.3 Teachers knowledge and ability to identify and help the stressed

children cope ........ ............. ................... ............. ........................................................ 21

4.3.1 Teachers awareness of symptoms and signs of stress in children

................................................................................ ................................... .................... 22

4.3.2 Teachers efforts to offer support to stressed children ..................... 23

4.3.4 Observation on a ny evidence of Bibliotheraphy books .................... 25

4.3.5 Teachers ability to communicate with stressed children to h elp

them cope ............ ....................................................................................................... 25

4.3.6 The teach er's awareness of the role of play in controlling stress in

children ....................................................................................................................... 27

4.3.7 'I'ypes of play useful in reducing stress .... ............................................ 28

4.3.8 Teachers awareness of their role in h elping the parents of

stressed children copes ............. ............................................................................ 28

4.4 Government intervention for the stressed children in sch ool.. ......... 29

VI

CHAPTER FIVE ....................................................................................................... 32

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND

RECOMMENDATION ............................................................................................. 32

5.0 Introduction ......................... .............................................................................. 32

5.1 Summary of findings ....................................................................................... 32

5.2 Conclusion ......................... ................................................................................. 33

5 .3 Recommendations .. .......................................................................................... 34

REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 36

APPENDICES ............................................................................................................ 37

Appendix A: Questionnaires ................................................................................ 37