Bundotich C. Sarah^1,, Kisilu M. Kitainge¹, Too Jackson²

School adjustment refers to students’ ability to adapt and successfully survive in a new physical and social environment with new people. Peers are groups of people who have common things such status, abilities or age as the other specified people. The objective of the study was to establish the influence of peers on adjustment form one students to secondary school. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory was employed by study. This study employed explanatory survey research design. The target population was 207 heads of schools, 207 heads of counseling department, and 14,043 form one students in Uasin Gishu County. Several sampling techniques were used to select study’s participants. Sets of the questionnaire and focus group discussion were used in data collection. The study used mixed method hence quantitative and qualitative data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The findings after computing the correlation and regression statistic indicated (r=0.459, ρ<0.05) and (β = 0.459, p < 0.05) respectively for peer influence on the adjustment to secondary school. Qualitative data was analyzed based on emerging themes. These findings indicate that peers have a significant influence on adjustment of form one students to secondary school. The study concluded that a supportive and warm social environment enhance adjustment and retention of forms students to secondary school.

peers, personal attributes, secondary school adjustment, social environment and supportive social environment