Influence of Motherhood Challenges on Perceived Selfconcept Among Student Mothers in Selected Private Universities in Kiambu and Nairobi Counties, Kenya

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of motherhood challenges on perceived self-concept among student mothers in selected private universities in Nairobi and Kiambu Counties, Kenya. The study focused on determining the effect of physical, psychological, social, and financial challenges on self-concept and identifying interventions that mitigate their adverse effects. The research adopted an embedded mixed-methods design and was anchored on Role Theory and SelfDiscrepancy Theory. The target population comprised student mothers enrolled at United States International University/Africa (USIU-Africa) in Nairobi County, and Mount Kenya University (MKU) in Kiambu County. A purposive sample of 393 student mothers participated in the study. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 31, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically using NVivo software. Descriptive statistics were generated and inferential analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation and linear regression. The findings revealed that physical challenges demonstrated a moderate positive but borderline relationship with self-concept (r = 0.509, p = 0.063) and explained 25.9% of the variance (R² = 0.259), with a regression coefficient of β = 0.509 and ANOVA results of F = 4.192, p = 0.063. Psychological challenges showed a weak and non-significant relationship with self-concept (r = 0.352, p = 0.217), explaining only 12.4% of the variance (R² = 0.124), with β = 0.352 and F = 1.701, p = 0.217. Social challenges demonstrated a statistically significant moderate relationship with self-concept (r = 0.544, p = 0.044), explaining 29.6% of the variance (R² = 0.296), supported by a significant regression coefficient (β = 0.544) and ANOVA results (F = 5.046, p = 0.044). Financial challenges showed a moderate but borderline relationship with self-concept (r = 0.519, p = 0.057) and explained 27.0% of the variance (R² = 0.270), with β = 0.519 and F = 4.431, p = 0.057. In conclusion, the study established that social challenges significantly influence perceived self-concept among student mothers; physical and financial challenges demonstrated meaningful but borderline effects, while psychological challenges showed weak influence. The study recommends strengthening institutional psychosocial support systems, flexible academic policies, peer support programs, and financial assistance mechanisms to enhance the well-being, academic persistence, and positive self-concept of student mothers in selected private universities in Nairobi and Kiambu Counties, Kenya.