TEENAGE SINGLE MOTHERS LIVED EXPERIENCES OF SELF-CONCEPT: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF NAIROBI INFORMAL SETTLEMENT SCHOOLS

Abstract

Single motherhood particularly among teenagers who are students is a growing social concern with far-reaching implications. This phenomenological study explored Teen Single Mothers’ lived experiences of self-concept from a criterion sample of three teenage single mothers aged 18 and 19 years. The participants were students in one of the informal settlement secondary schools in Nairobi County.  Data collection was conducted through a recorded focus group discussion, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Six salient themes emerged from the analysis namely, the challenges of teenage motherhood, the impact of poverty, the impact on self-concept, rejection, coping strategies, and the importance of education. Findings revealed that these young mothers face emotional difficulties such as shame, guilt, and identity crises, often compounded by societal discrimination and stigma.  The findings may contribute to the discourse on teenage motherhood and provide valuable information for educators, policymakers, and social workers seeking to create interventions that support the educational and emotional needs of teen mothers.