Sexuality, Identity and Health Challenges Perceptions among High School Adolescents Attending a Cathedral Workshop in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County

Abstract

Adolescence is a formative stage where sexuality significantly influence psychosocial development. High school adolescents often face challenges such as identity confusion, limited communication with adults on sexuality and exposure to exploitative relationships. Misconceptions and inadequate support systems exacerbate these issues, leading to adverse health and social outcomes. This study therefore evaluated sexuality, identity and health challenges perceptions among high school adolescents attending a cathedral workshop in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu Count. The research was anchored in Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development and employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. A census sampling technique was used to include all 65 eligible high school adolescent attendees. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire, which was validated for content and reliability. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 26, applying descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to examine associations. The study found that 61.6% of participants experienced identity uncertainty with some regularity, with 60.0% citing professional or academic identity as the most affected area. This confusion translated to measurable negative mental health impacts for 66.1% of adolescents. Awareness of sponsors/sugar daddies was high (83.1%), with 72.3% identifying financial support as the primary motivation. Further, 49.3% of adolescents reported being uncomfortable or very uncomfortable discussing sexuality with trusted adults. Chi-square analysis showed significant associations between gender and comfort discussing sexuality (χ² = 10.87, p = .028), school type and access to LGBTQ support systems (χ² = 8.41, p = .004), and identity confusion with mental health impact (χ² = 18.29, p = .001). These results confirm that demographic factors strongly shape adolescents’ perceptions and psychosocial outcomes. It is recommended that schools should strengthen counseling services by training qualified personnel to address identity crises and related mental health challenges, while parents, guardians and faith-based organizations must bridge communication gaps through workshops and mentorship programs.