Browsing by Author "Maria Ntaragwe"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Adolescents' Social Networking and Self-Concept in Public Mixed Day Secondary Schools in Kajiado North Sub-County, Kenya
    (International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 2021-07) Kwara Rainer Abadali; Stephen Asatsa (PhD); Maria Ntaragwe
    Self-concept among adolescents is dynamic because of the struggle to find true identity while maintaining social acceptability. Social media may be seen as a social laboratory providing freedom to experiment with different presentations of self. The study examined the relationship between selected social networking sites (WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram) and the adolescents’ self-concept in public mixed day secondary schools in Kajiado County, Kajiado North Sub-county Kenya. An embedded mixed methods research design was employed to enable the researcher establish the relationship between the selected Social Networking Sites and self-concept among adolescents. Simple random sampling was employed to the selected 4 schools for this study. Probability sampling technique was used to select a sample of 265 respondents from the 4 selected secondary schools as sample size for the study. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings indicated that Facebook was the most preferred social media site among the adolescents. The self-concept level among the adolescents was at a moderate level indicating that the adolescents are aware of their self. The study found a negative weak correlation between WhatsApp and self-concept among adolescent; a negative weak correlation between Facebook and self-concept among adolescents and a negative weak correlation between Instagram and self-concept among adolescents. Self-concept among the selected respondents was not significantly affected by the selected social media applications. The study recommends harnessing of social media platforms as a socializing tool among adolescents since no significant correlation was found between social media and self-concept of adolescents despite the existing ban of use of mobile phones among this population in Kenya.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Regulating community well-being through traditional mourning rituals: Insights from the Luhya People of Kenya
    (Evolution, Medicine, & Public Health, 2025-01) Stephen Asatsa; Sheina Lew-Levy; Stephen Ngaari Mbugua; Maria Ntaragwe; Wilkister Shanyisa; Elizabeth Gichimu; Jane Nambiri; Jonathan Omuchesi
    Background and objectives: Rituals have been reported to serve as a vital mechanism for expressing grief and fostering communal support worldwide. Despite these benefits, use of rituals in Indigenous communities is threatened by missionization, globalization, and westernization. This study sought to examine the relevance of traditional mourning rituals in community morality and well-being. Anchored in cultural evolutionary theory, the study employed an ethnographic research design. Methodology: Data were collected from 45 community elders, 30 bereaved adults, 30 bereaved adolescents, and 8 religious leaders through focus group discussions and interviews. Results: The study established five mourning rituals practiced by the Luhya people, each potentially serving an evolutionary function for community survival and well-being. Our findings show that Luhya traditional mourning rituals play an important role in community well-being, though not all members may benefit equally from these effects. Conclusions and implications: The study established conflict over rituals with differing viewpoints from religious leaders, cultural leaders, and the western biomedical approach to mental well-being. Yet, the bereaved reported that both Luhya and religious rituals helped them process their grief. To address mental health issues fully, it is important to establish collaboration between western models, religious approaches, and cultural approaches. Lay Summary Rituals are important practices that help people express their grief and provide support within communities around the world yet in most indigenous communities across the world, yet these rituals are being replaced by western biomedical approaches. This study focused on the significance of traditional mourning rituals among the Luhya people of Kenya and how these practices contribute to community morality and well-being. The study interviewed community elders, bereaved adults and adolescents, and religious leaders. The findings revealed that traditional rituals are crucial for the community's health, although not all members experience the same benefits. There were differing opinions about the rituals from religious leaders, cultural leaders, and those who follow western medical approaches to mental health. Despite these conflicts, many bereaved individuals reported that both Luhya and religious rituals helped them cope with their grief. To effectively address mental health issues, the study suggests a need for collaboration between western mental health models, religious practices, and cultural traditions. This approach could create a more comprehensive support system for those experiencing loss.