Corporal punishment, stress, absenteeism, and career aspiration among secondary school students in Kampala

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between corporal punishment, stress, absenteeism and career aspiration of secondary school students. A quantitative approach and a correlational design were used. The study aimed at examining the relationship between Corporal punishment, stress absenteeism and poor career aspiration of secondary school students in Kampala. A sample size of 290 students were recruited to participate in the study. Standardized instruments were self-administered. Results revealed that corporal punishment has a significant relationship with stress of students, and is significantly related to absenteeism. The findings further revealed that corporal punishment has no significant relationship with career aspiration. Stress significantly influences absenteeism of students from school. While there is no significant relationship between stress and future career aspiration of students, absenteeism of students has a negative and significant influence on their future career aspiration. The study concludes that that despite the national ban of corporal punishments; the practice is still alive as a measure of changing behaviour in schools. This reflects a large gap between current education policy to ban corporal punishment and the actual implementation of this policy. The researcher recommends that this ban be implemented, and suggests that positive discipline strategies and counselling be used instead. Counselling Psychologists together with legal fraternity should advocate for other ways of disciplining students rather than subjecting them to corporal punishment.