Extroversion Personality Traits for Stress Management and Attitude Towards Climate Change Among Teacher Counsellors in Secondary Schools in Kakamega County Kenya

Abstract

Climate Change is a global issue that touches the lives of all human beings, each with a different outlook while affecting their different personalities. This study examines the relationship between extroversion personality trait stress management and attitude towards climate change among teacher counsellors in secondary schools in Kakamega County Kenya. The study was guided by The General Adaptation Syndrome theory of stress management and Seligman’s 3Ps theory of resilience. Correlation survey design was used. The population was 327 teacher counsellors in secondary schools. The proportionate, purposeful and simple random sampling designs were used to select 181 teacher counsellors. Data was collected using questionnaires adopted from the Big Five Inventory (BFI) tool with its published reliability coefficient of 0.8, and the Ego-Resiliency Scale (ER89) with its published reliability coefficient of 0.76. A pilot study was done in neighboring Bungoma County. Content validity as well as expert opinion from psychology department Laikipia University was used to verify the validity of the instruments. Data collected was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation with the aid of Microsoft Excel statistics. Data was presented in frequency tables, graphs and charts. The study findings showed a strong relationship between extraversion and stress resilience. Extroverts were found to be oriented towards nature conservation for a safe environment. The results also showed that Extroverts with their social interrelating motivated others into climate change intervention behavior. Extroverts were involved in societal civic engagements that educated others on matters of climate change control. The study indicated that extrovert teachers had high levels of stress management and positive attitude towards climate change because they openly shared their views on contemporary and other concerns. This conflicted with introverts who were found to be self-isolating and reserved. The study results are expected to assist teacher counsellors to understand the significance of personality traits and how they can use them to influence climate change.