Influence of adolescents’ popularity on academic performance in secondary schools: a case of Baringo North Sub-County, Baringo County Kenya

Abstract

Adolescence is a stage during which individuals tend to be highly concerned with their social status in groups. Adolescents may desire to be popular among their peers but at the same time concentrate on their academic performance. This balancing might not be easy, thus the study sought to determine the influence of internal and external factors of adolescents‘ popularity on academic performance as regulated by age variation. The study objectives were as follows: To examine the influence of internal factors of adolescents‘ popularity on academic performance of students in secondary schools in Baringo North Sub-county; to examine the influence of external factors of adolescents‘ popularity on academic performance of students in secondary schools in Baringo North Sub-county and to investigate the influence of age variation of popular adolescents on academic performance of students in secondary schools in Baringo North Sub-county. The study was guided by goal-framing theory. Ex-post facto design was applied in the study. It was a quantitative research. Purposive, proportionate and simple random techniques were used to obtain the sample for the study. The study was carried out in Baringo North Sub-county, Baringo County Kenya. The target population was 8694 secondary school students. Out of this, 383 students were sampled. Data was generated by using students‘ questionnaires whose validity and reliability was established. Reliability was established using Cronbach Alpha. The study employed both descriptive and inferential statistics. Pearson correlation coefficient and simple and multiple linear regression analysis was conducted at significant level of α= 0.05. Data analysis was done with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26. The study established that internal and external factors of adolescents‘ popularity had a positive significant influence on academic performance of students in secondary schools in Baringo North Sub-county with correlation coefficients of (r = 0. 547, p < 0.05) and (r = 0. 760, p < 0.05) respectively. Also, the results revealed a statistically significant negative relationship (r = -0.334, p < 0.05) between age variation of popular adolescents and academic performance of students in secondary schools in Baringo North Sub-county. The findings were considered significant to school administration and teachers as they may utilize internal and external factors of adolescents‘ popularity to improve academic performance of students in school since they positively affect students‘ academic performance. In addition, since age variation negatively affects academic performance, students should joint school within the stipulated age.