| dc.description.abstract | Psychosocial factors may shape sexual attitudes and behaviours of young people either
positively or negatively. Risky sexual behaviours have become a challenge all over the
world and may have major negative impact on the undergraduate students‘ experiences
such as sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies, abortions, negative
academic performance, inability to progress through the university academic years,
decision to remain at university and overall psychological well-being. Therefore, the
purpose of this research mainly dwelt on the perceived influence of selected psychosocial
factors on risky sexual behaviours among undergraduate students of Egerton and Kabarak
main campuses in Nakuru County. The objectives of this study were; to determine the
perceived influence of self-efficacy on risky sexual behaviours, to examine the perceived
influence of sexual norms on risky sexual behaviours, to establish the perceived influence
of socio-economic status on risky sexual behaviours, to assess the perceived influence of
social media on risky sexual behaviours, to explore the perceived influence of substance
abuse on risky sexual behaviours and to identify the mediating role of counselling
services in mitigating risky sexual behaviours. Social Learning Theory by Albert
Bandura, Social Exchange Theory by George Homans and Person-Centred Theory by
Carl Rogers guided the study. The study was carried out among 3
vii
rd
and 4
th
year
undergraduate students from main campuses in Nakuru County. The study adopted a
correlational research design. The target population was 18570 undergraduate students.
The accessible population was 8456 3
rd
and 4
th
year undergraduate students whose sample
was 367. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the respondents. The
sample included 10 peer counsellors and 2 student counsellors from the Egerton
University and Kabarak University main campuses who were selected through purposive
sampling. The total number of respondents was 379. Data were obtained using
questionnaire, focus group discussions guide and interview schedule. Validation of
research instruments was done through peer and expert review and through pilot testing
which was done in Mount Kenya University (MKU)- Nakuru Campus that was not
among the main campuses studied. The pilot sample consisted of 15 undergraduate
students, 5 peer counsellors and 1 student counsellor. Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was
used to establish reliability coefficient, which was 0.79, and was based on the threshold of
0.7. Descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages were used, and inferential
statistics of chi-square statistics was also used to analyse quantitative data using SPSS
Version 25. The analysed data was presented in tables, graphs, and narratives. The
researcher considered ethics of confidentiality and informed consent. The outcome
indicated that most of the sampled students and staffs jointly agreed that self-efficacy,
sexual norms, socio-economic status, social media, and substance abuse influence risky
sexual behaviours among undergraduate students. Further findings indicated that
counselling services have mediating role in mitigating risky sexual behaviours. The study
concluded that the selected psychosocial factors have statistically significant perceived
influence on risky sexual behaviours among undergraduate students. Therefore, the study
recommends inclusion of human sexuality as a subject in the curriculum from primary
school to university level. The study also recommends the enhancement of regulations on
use of social media in order to curb exchange of pornographic messages and videos hence
reduce risky sexual behaviours among undergraduate students. | en_US |
