Socio-Demographic Predictors and Preventive Strategies of Anxiety Severity among Students of Tertiary Institutions, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated socio-demographic predictors and preventive strategies of anxiety severity among students of tertiary institutions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria. Two research questions and tone null hypothesis guided the study. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study comprised 12,578 students of tertiary institutions. The multistage sampling procedure was used to draw a sample size of 408 students of tertiary institutions. 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 MHPPSQ contained 13 items formulated based on the study’s baseline findings. The formulated preventive strategies for mental health problems among students were validated by 10 experts in Public Health Education. The research questions were answered using mean, standard deviation, and point-biserial correlation. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the null hypotheses. at 0.05 alpha level. The results showed that living arrangements (beta = -.129, p = 0.010<.05) and year of study (beta = 0.268, p < .001) were significant socio-demographic predictors of have higher anxiety severity among tertiary institution students. Public health education experts considered the formulated preventive strategies for mental health problems among students of tertiary institutions appropriate. In conclusion, students had mild (weak) level of anxiety. The authors recommended the conduct and implementation of health screening programmes in tertiary institutions to identify students at risk of anxiety severity by psychologists and mental health professionals.