The Relationship between K.C.S.E Examination Scores and Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression and Suicide Ideation among Adolescents in Nairobi, Kenya

This study examined the relationship between the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination scores and the symptoms of anxiety, depression and suicide ideation among the adolescents in Nairobi, Kenya. The study was conducted at various churches in Eastlands, Southlands and Westlands. A target population of 100 boys and girls were randomly selected. The inclusion criteria for this sample were participants aged 16, 17, 18 and 19 years who had taken their KCSE examination in October and November 2015. The study commenced on 3rd March 2016, after the results for this examination were released by the Kenya Ministry of Education. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the Beck’s Anxiety Inventory and the Columbia Suicide Severity Scale (Screener version) were administered to each participant in addition to the researchers own questions targeting the participants’ attitude towards this examination. Pearson-product moment correlation method was used to analyze the data and the results presented in tables. The study found that in regards to participants’ KCSE scores: 41% reported moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety; 64% reported depressive symptoms; and 11% reported suicide ideation. In the population studied, there was no significant correlation between KCSE scores and psychological symptoms of depression as evidenced by the Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.133 at a significance level of 0.186. There was also no relationship between KCSE scores and symptoms of suicide ideation as evidenced by the Pearson correlation coefficient of -0.07 at a significance level of 0.49. There was however a correlation of 0.238 between KCSE scores and anxiety symptoms as evidenced by a significance level of 0.017.