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.
