The impact of birth order on the personality traits of kca university Students in Nairobi county, Kenya

Abstract

Personality is the culmination of an individual's thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. Research has indicated that some factors influence the environment, including birth order. This study aimed to examine the impact of biological birth order on personality traits among university students in Nairobi County. The study objectives were to find out the impact of birth order on the agreeableness of university students in Nairobi County, to determine the impact of biological birth order on the openness of university students in Nairobi County, to find out the impact of biological birth order on the conscientiousness of university students, to find out impact of biological birth order on extraversion of university students in Nairobi county and to determine the impact of biological birth order on neuroticism of university students in Nairobi county. This study was guided by the use of the Big Five model, a personality theory upheld by psychologists at the time. The research targeted 200 university students in Nairobi County, specifically at KCA University. The study employed a survey research design, with the targeted respondents and sample size including university students enrolled in KCA University within Nairobi County, totaling 200 respondents. A stratified sampling technique was used, and the data collected were analyzed using the SPSS package. Findings were presented in tables and figures. Studying the impacts of birth order on personality was essential, as it helped young adults understand and appreciate the differences in personality within their family setups. The study found significant variations in personality traits among university students, particularly when considering their birth order. Firstborns were generally found to score higher on traits such as conscientiousness and openness, while laterborn children displayed higher levels of agreeableness and extraversion. The research also revealed that birth order played a subtle but important role in shaping key personality aspects, influencing how students interacted with others and approached academic and social challenges. These findings contributed to a deeper understanding of how family dynamics might influence individual personality development and provided valuable insights for both personal growth and family relationships.