Effect of Gender on Stressful Experiences of First Year Students. An inside from a public university in Kenya.

Abstract

The present study examined the effect of gender on stressful experiences of first year students in one selected public university in Kenya. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted to guide data collection. The participants were one hundred and ninety eight first year students (198) at one university. Quantitative data was obtained using Stress Questionnaire. Inferential analysis by use of independent t-test was used to test hypothesis. The findings indicated that there are significant gender differences in stressful experiences on academic demands, psychological and social relationship and financial difficulties among the first year university students. Therefore, this implies that Dean of students at universities should design support mechanisms to support female students in coping with stressors as new students.