Correlation between destructive anger and academic achievement of secondary school students: case of selected public secondary schools in Ruiru Sub County, Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between destructive anger and academic achievement of students from selected public secondary schools in Ruiru sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to analyze the socio-demographic characteristics of students, to find out the prevalence of destructive anger among students, to investigate the correlation between destructive anger and academic achievement of students, and to examine the differences in expressing anger between boys and girls in selected public secondary schools in Ruiru sub-County. Two secondary schools were purposively selected to take part in this study. A sample of 201 respondents were recruited. Descriptive survey research design was used. The study found out that hostility had the strongest prevalence levels among students with a mean of 3.83 followed by Anger with a mean of 3.66, and then Verbal Aggression with a mean of 3.57. The study also found out that the mean academic performance of the respondents had been on a decline for the last 3 terms. Both verbal aggression and hostility were statistical predictors of academic performance (p=0.029 and p=0.006) respectively. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between gender and punching someone (r=0.142; p=0.044).; gender and crying as an expression of anger (r=-0.431; p=0.000); gender and walking off (r=0.147; p=0.037); while gender and eating a lot as an expression of anger (r=0.228; p=0.001). Among the study’s recommendations were that schools have the responsibility of detecting and regulating the emotions created by the adolescents, and that there is need for family and academic institutions to implements policies that will mitigate the prevalence of destructive anger among high school students. The study concluded that destructive anger is prevalent among secondary school students in Ruiru sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya.