Department of Educational Psychology

Contextual Predictors and Preventive Strategies of Mental Health Problems among Students of Tertiary Institutions, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

2026-07-23T09:14:28Z

Contextual Predictors and Preventive Strategies of Mental Health Problems among Students of Tertiary Institutions, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria Kato, George Usman Background: This study investigated contextual predictors and preventive strategies for mental health problems among students of tertiary institutions at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria. Three specific objectives and two null hypotheses guided the study. Materials and Methods: The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study comprised 12,578 undergraduate students. The multistage sampling procedure was used to select the study sample of 390 students. The Mental Health Problems Questionnaire (MHPQ) and Mental Health Problems Preventive Strategies Questionnaire (MHPPSQ) were used for the study. Five experts in Public Health Education validated the MHPQ. The reliability of the MHPQ was determined using the Cronbach alpha statistic. The reliability coefficients of 0.71, 0.74 and 0.88 were obtained for sections B, C, and D of the MHPQ, respectively. The MHPPSQ contained 13 items formulated based on the study’s base line findings. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBMSPSSversion25).Mean, standard deviation, and point biserial correlation were used to answer research questions, while multiple regression analyses were used to test the null hypotheses1and 2 at a 0.05 level of significance. Results: Results showed that there was a positive moderate relationship between anxiety severity and students’ social/environment (rbp = .37), curriculum/expectations (rbp = .32) and financial stress (rbp=.36) and aweak positive relationship between anxiety severity and students perceived academic achievement (rbp=.25) andtime/balance challenge (rbp=.25).There was a positive moderate relationship between depression severity and social/environment (rbp =.32)and financial stress (rbp=.33).Furthermore, social/physical environmental challenges with higher beta values(beta=1.091,p=0.001)and financial stress(beta =1.079, P< .001)were statistically significant and social/physical environmental challenges with higher beta values(beta=1.026,p<=001)and financial stress(beta = 1.081, P< .001) were statistically significant. Health education experts also considered the formulatedpreventivestrategies formental healthproblemsamong studentsoftertiaryinstitutionsappropriate( =3.21;SD=0.35).Conclusion:The studyhighlightstheneedforroutinementalhealthscreeningprogrammesintertiary institutionstoidentifystudentsatriskofanxietyanddepressionbypsychologistsand mental health professionals. With the academic and other socio-economic demands of tertiary educational pursuits, students form a vulnerable group for close monitoring to prevent adopting ineffective coping strategies including recourse to psychoactive substances and other self-destructive behaviours.

Contextual Stressors and Barriers to Help-Seeking Behaviours as Predictors to Depression Severity among Undergraduate Students of Tertiary Institutions in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria

2024-09-19T12:15:41Z

Contextual Stressors and Barriers to Help-Seeking Behaviours as Predictors to Depression Severity among Undergraduate Students of Tertiary Institutions in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria KATO, George Usman This study assessed contextual stressors and barriers to help-seeking behaviours as predictors of depression severity among undergraduate students of tertiary institutions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study comprised 12,578 undergraduate students in FCT, Abuja. The sample size for the study was 408 undergraduate students. The multistage sampling procedure was used to draw the study sample. Contextual Stressors and Barriers to Help-Seeking Behaviours for Depression Questionnaire (CSBHSBDQ) was used for the study. The face validity was established by five experts while the reliability (internal consistency) of the CSBHSBDQ was determined using Cronbach’s alpha statistics. The reliability coefficients of 0.71 and 0.74 were obtained for sections A and B of the CSBHSBDQ respectively. The research questions were answered using point-biserial correlation. Multiple regression was used to test the null hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that there is a moderate positive relationship between depression level and social/environment (rbp = 0.32) and financial stress (rbp = 0.33), while fear of therapy (rbp = 0.37), fear of self-discovery (rbp = 0.39) and fear of stigma (rbp = 0.37) showed a moderate positive relationship between depression level and barriers to behaviours. Social/physical environment (beta = .205, p = .000 < .05) and financial stress (beta = .216, p =.000 < .05) were significant contextual stressors of depression severity among undergraduate students, while fear of therapy (beta = 1.026, p = .001 < .05), fear of self-discovery (beta = 1.026, p = .001 < .05) and fear of stigma (beta = 1.081, p = .001 < .05) were significant barriers to help-seeking behaviours of depression severity among undergraduate students. The study recommended that necessary stakeholders should embark on stigma-reduction campaigns to create awareness around campuses and help remove stereotypes associated with depression.

DIFFERENTIALS IN THE STIGMATIZATION AGAINST MENTALLY ILL PERSONS AMONG MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

2024-05-27T11:39:48Z

DIFFERENTIALS IN THE STIGMATIZATION AGAINST MENTALLY ILL PERSONS AMONG MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS KATO, George U. This study examined the differentials in the stigmatization against mentally ill persons among mental health professionals (MHPs). The correlation research design was used for the study and the instrument for data collection was a researchers-designed questionnaire. The validity of the instrument was established. The Spearman 13rown Rank order Correlation Coefficient was used to test the reliability of the instrument. The population for the study consisted of 105 MIPs which also constituted the sample. Three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The research questions were answered using the correlation coefficient while regression analysis was used in testing the null hypotheses. The results of the study revealed that the relationship between MHPs' age, gender, level of education, and stigmatization was very low. On the basis of these findings, it was recommended among others that both male and female MHPs, irrespective of their characteristics, be involved in the anti-stigma campaigns using a team approach.

Assessment of Knowledge and Utilization of Family Planning Methods among Married Women in Selected Communities in Tarauni L.G.A., Kano State

2024-05-27T11:18:53Z

Assessment of Knowledge and Utilization of Family Planning Methods among Married Women in Selected Communities in Tarauni L.G.A., Kano State KATO, George U. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and the utilization of family planning methods among married women in selected communities of Tarauni Local Government Area. The study provided insights to family planning educators and reproductive health researchers/workers for understanding the criteria that can be used to examine the knowledge and use of family planning methods. Moreover, the study was guided by two research questions. Survey design was used for it. The population consists of 11, 503 women attending the antenatal clinic of the public primary healthcare facilities (PPHFs) in selected communities (Tarauni Gabas, Unguwa Uku Gari, Babbangiji and Hotoro) of Tarauni LGA. The sample size for the study, which is three-hundred-and-seventy (370), comprised three-hundred-and-thirty married women. A sample size 370 was a drawn using a cluster random sampling. The instrument used for data collection was a self-developed questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.87. The data collected were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation. The findings of the study revealed a good knowledge of traditional family planning methods among married women with a significant number having a poor knowledge of modem family planning methods. The study also revealed high levels of the utilization of family planning methods but with traditional methods being the most used. The study recommended, among others, the need for government and non-governmental organizations to embark on more vigorous sensitization campaigns to equip married women with knowledge of modem family planning methods and their efficacies and limitations