| dc.description.abstract | University life presents many challenges for students. Stressful experiences motivate individuals to engage in various behavioural methods, many of wttich are considered negatively motivated. However, stress is an inevitable every day experience, and despite the negative implications on a person's health, some stress is helpful for individual's new challenges. High level of stress among young people has been identified as a predictor of depression, suicidal ideation, leads to poor academic performance, attrition and serious health problems. The most effective interventions in reducing the incidence and severity of the leading causes of disease and disability are those addressing personal health behaviours of individuals. Mental health promotion provides a range of different activities that include stress management, assertiveness and relaxation that are designed to help one to cope with the negative effects of stress.
Objectives
To determine the effectiveness of psycho-education as an intervention on health- promotion behaviours.
Study Design and Setting
This was a quasi-experimental clinical trial design to test the efficacy of psycho- education in the promotion of healthy behaviour in regular full-time B. Ed. (Arts, Early Childhood, and Science) students from University of Nairobi (experimental) (n=181) and Kenyatta University (control) (n=192).
Study Instruments
Self administered questionnaires were used which included; - Social-Demographic, Daily Stress Inventory, Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II, General Health
Questionnaire (GHQ).
Method
Ethical approval and authority to carry out the study from both the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University administrations. Convenience sampling technique was used to identify consenting students who were then randomly sampled to obtain the required stratified sample sizes. Three assessments at intervals of three months apart were conducted. The experimental group was given the intervention twice three months apart
Data Analysis
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 16.0.
Results
At baseline, 53.4% and 46.6% of the students in both study sites suffered from daily moderate and high chronic stress respectively while in both groups they engaged moderately in health promotion behaviours. After intervention, respondents in the experimental group made significant improvement by follow-up 1 (p<0:05) unlike those in the control group.
Conclusion
The intervention prescribed was effective. | en_US |
