Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

Associations and predictors of psychological distress among students following disruption of academic activities by strikes embarked by university workers in Nigeria public universities

Year 2024, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 65 - 75, 29.04.2024
https://doi.org/10.53811/ijtcmr.1354228

Abstract

Objective
Psychological distress is experienced to be heightened among students during health distress and the disruption of academic activities by strikes. This study sought to determine the associating and predicting factors of anxiety and depression among university students following the disruption of academic activities by strikes.
Material-Method
This cross-sectional face-to-face and online study conveniently recruited a total of 317 students aged 15-51 years. The student's socio-demographic, socioeconomic, physical characteristics, and psychological distress were assessed using a structured questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and General Anxiety Disorder–7 (GAD-7). Data analysis consists of descriptive statistics, Pearson's Chi-square test, and Logistic regression, at a significant level of p<0.05.
Results
Student category χ2 (1, n = 110) = 7.928, p = 0.005 Vs χ2 (1, n = 201) = 27.282, p = 0.000, marital status χ2 (1, n = 4) = 4.696, p = 0.030 Vs χ2 (1, n = 10) = 8.382, p = 0.004, steady family income χ2 (1, n = 31) = 11.846, p = 0.001 Vs χ2 (1, n = 68) = 14.049, p = 0.000, lost interest χ2 (1, n = 77) = 7.676, p = 0.006 Vs χ2 (1, n = 136) = 16.500, p = 0.000, and contemplating dropping out of school χ2 (1, n = 44) = 6.764, p = 0.009 Vs χ2 (1, n = 74) = 10.213, p = 0.001 were significantly associated with depression and anxiety. Steady family income was a predictor for both anxiety (OR = 0.518, 95% CI= 0.285-0.942, p = 0.031) and depression (OR =0.501, 95% CI= 0.291-0.864, p = 0.013). Student category (OR =3.545, 95% CI= 1.260-9.976, p = 0.017), leaving home (OR = 2.182, 95% CI= 1.199-3.973, p = 0.011), lost interest in my studies (OR = 2.407, 95% CI= 1.267-4.575, p = 0.007) and frequency of exercise (OR = 0.419 95% CI= 0.186-0.944, p = 0.036) also predict anxiety.
Conclusion
Overall, strike causes negative effects on the psychological states of students with some factors standing out in deteriorating the psychological states. Lack of steady family income, low frequency of exercise, loss of interest, contemplating dropping out of school, and leaving home were outstanding predicting and associating factors of depression and anxiety.

References

  • Dahida DD, Adeshola AJ. A comparative analysis of trade dispute settlement in Nigerian public and private universities. J Law Policy Glob. 2013;18:60-68.
  • Ajayi JO. ASUU Strikes and Academic Performance of Students In Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. IJBMS. 2014;4:19-34.
  • Alabi SI. Student’s Perception on the Impact of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Industrial Actions on University Development in Nigeria. IJSA. 2019;3(3):95-104.
  • Adeniran. Poor Learning Atmosphere in Universities. Enough is Enough (EIE) Journal, 2000; 26th May.
  • Ntiasagwe IO. The Effect of Strikes on Students Who Attended Imo State University, Nigeria, from 2012 – 2017: a Phenomenological Study. CAHSS Theses, Dissertation, and Applied Clinical Project; 2020 https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd
  • Awotidebe AW, Garba NA, Tukur MA, Jibril M, Isa UL, Aliyu L. Prevalence and Factors Associated with Symptoms of Psychological Distress among Students of Allied Health Sciences in a Nigerian University. PJAHS 2022;6(1):15-22.
  • World Health Organization. The global burden of disease: In. Geneva; 2008.
  • Kerebih H, Ajaeb M, Hailesilassie H. Common mental disorders among medical students in Jimma University, SouthWest Ethiopia. Afr Health Sci. 2017;17(3):844-851.
  • Wolf S, Seiffer B, Zeibig JM, et al. Is Physical Activity Associated with Less Depression and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Rapid Systematic Review. Sports Med. 2021;51(8):1771-1783.
  • Ewah PA, Oyeyemi AY. Relation between derived cardiovascular indices, body surface area, and blood pressure/heart rate recovery among active and inactive Nigerian student. Bull Fac Phys Ther. 2022;27:34.
  • Cha H-G, Tae-Hoon K, Myoung-Kwon K. Therapeutic efficacy of walking backward and forward on a slope in normal adults. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28:1901-1903.
  • Ewah PA, Oyeyemi AY, Oyeyemi AL, et al. Comparison of exercise and physical activity routine and health status among apparently healthy Nigerian adults before and during COVID-19 lockdown: a self-report by social media users. Bull Natl Res Cent. 2022;46(1):155.
  • Esan O, Esan A, Folasire A, Oluwajulugbe P. Mental health and wellbeing of medical students in Nigeria: a systematic review. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2019;31(7-8):661-672.
  • Edméa FC, Margleice MR, Ana Teresa RS, Enaldo VM, Luiz Antonio NM, Tarcisio MA. Common mental disorders and associated factors among final-year healthcare students. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2014;60(6):525-530.
  • Kiran M, Sukhjinder, Kawalinder G, Parminder K, Harkirat. A study of mental distress in medical students. NJPPP. 2015;5(3):190-194.
  • Chateterjeec, Mandal PK, Malik S, Manna N, Sardar JC. A study on mental distress among MBBS students in medical college, Kalkata, India. Ann Trop Med Public Health. 2012;5:453-457.
  • Dachew BA, Azale Bisetegn T, Berhe Gebremariam R. Prevalence of Mental Distress and Associated Factors among Undergraduate Students of University of Gondar, NorthWest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Institutional Based Study. Plos one. 2015;10(3):e0119464.
  • Dessie Y, Ebrahim J, Awoke T. Mental distress among university students in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional survey. Pan Afr Med J. 2013;15:95.
  • Liu X, Zhu M, Zhang R, Zhang J, Zhang C, Liu P, et al. Public mental health problems during COVID-19 pandemic: a large-scale meta-analysis of the evidence. Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11:384.
  • Wu T, Jia X, Shi H, Niu J, Yin X, Xie J, et al. Prevalence of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and metaanalysis. J Affect Disord. 2021;281:91-98.
  • Bhuiyan AKMI, Sakib N, Pakpour AH, Griffiths MD, Mamun MA. COVID-19-related suicides in Bangladesh due to lockdown and economic factors: case study evidence from media reports. Int J Ment Health Addict. 2020;2020:1-6. Dsouza DD, Quadros S, Hyderabadwala ZJ, Mamun MA. Aggregated COVID19 suicide incidences in India: fear of COVID-19 infection is the prominent causative factor. Psychiatry Res. 2020;290:113145.
  • Mir IA, Ng SK, Mohd Jamali MNZ, Jabbar MARazzaq, Humayra S. Determinants and predictors of mental health during and after COVID-19 lockdown among university students in Malaysia. PLoS One. 2023;18(1):e0280562.
  • Islam MA, Barna SD, Raihan H, Khan MNA, Hossain MT. Depression and anxiety among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: a web-based cross-sectional survey. PLoS One. 2020;15:e0238162.
  • Okeke NU, Anierobi EI, Ezennaka AO. Impact Of ASUU Strike on Psychosocial Development of Academic Staff in South-East Zone of Nigerian Universities. J Guid Couns Stud. 2021;5(2):267-277.
  • Ewah PA, Womboh I, Awhen PA, Dan FAO. The UNIversity ACADemics Strike impact on the Physical, Socioeconomic and Psychological distress (UNIACADS-P2S): Study protocol of a cross-sectional study on factors predicting psychological distress among lecturers, students, and parent/guardians. Accessed July 11, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3152653/v1
  • Ewah PA, Womboh I, Awhen PA, Dan FA. The impact of university academic strike on the physical, socioeconomic and psychological distress: A proposed study protocol of a cross-sectional study on factors predicting psychological distress among lecturers, students, and parent/guardians. ABUTH International Journal of Physiotherapy & Health Sciences. 2024;24(1): 61-68.
  • Ewah PA, Womboh I, Awhen PA, Dan FA. Psychometric properties of the physical and socioeconomic-psychological distress questionnaire (PASDQ) for workers participating in industrial action. ABUTH International Journal of Physiotherapy & Health Sciences. 2024;24(1): 38-47.
  • Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The Patient Health Questionnaire-2: Validity of a Two-Item Depression Screener. Medical Care. 2003;41:1284-92.
  • Toussaint A, Hüsing P, Gumz A, Wingenfeld K, Härter M, Schramm E, Löwe B. Sensitivity to change and minimal clinically important difference of the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7). J Affect Disord. 2020;265:395-401.
  • Nayan MH, Uddin SG, Hossain I, et al. Comparison of the performance of machine learning-based algorithms for predicting depression and anxiety among University Students in Bangladesh: A result of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian J Soc Health Behav. 2022;5(2);75.
  • Patrono A, Renzetti S, Manco A, et al. COVID-19 Aftermath: Exploring the Mental Health Emergency among Students at a Northern Italian University. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(14):8587.
  • Sundarasen S, Chinna K, Kamaludin K, et al. Psychological Impact of COVID-19 and Lockdown among University Students in Malaysia: Implications and Policy Recommendations. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(17):6206.
  • Lipert A, Kozłowski R, Timler D, Marczak M, Musiał K, Rasmus P, Kamecka K, Jegier A. Physical Activity as a Predictor of the Level of Stress and Quality of Sleep during COVID-19 Lockdown. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(11):5811.
  • Chekroud SR, Gueorguieva R, Zheutlin AB, Paulus M, Krumholz HM, Krystal JH, Chekroud AM. Association between physical exercise and mental health in 1·2 million individuals in the USA between 2011 and 2015: a cross-sectional study. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(9):739-746.
  • Cao W, Fang Z, Hou G, Han M, Xu X, Dong J, Zheng J. The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China. Psychiatry Res. 2020;287:112934.
  • Zhang SX, Wang Y, Rauch A, Wei F. Unprecedented disruption of lives and work: Health, distress and life satisfaction of working adults in China one month into the COVID-19 outbreak. Psychiatry Res. 2020;288:112958.
Year 2024, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 65 - 75, 29.04.2024
https://doi.org/10.53811/ijtcmr.1354228

Abstract

References

  • Dahida DD, Adeshola AJ. A comparative analysis of trade dispute settlement in Nigerian public and private universities. J Law Policy Glob. 2013;18:60-68.
  • Ajayi JO. ASUU Strikes and Academic Performance of Students In Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. IJBMS. 2014;4:19-34.
  • Alabi SI. Student’s Perception on the Impact of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Industrial Actions on University Development in Nigeria. IJSA. 2019;3(3):95-104.
  • Adeniran. Poor Learning Atmosphere in Universities. Enough is Enough (EIE) Journal, 2000; 26th May.
  • Ntiasagwe IO. The Effect of Strikes on Students Who Attended Imo State University, Nigeria, from 2012 – 2017: a Phenomenological Study. CAHSS Theses, Dissertation, and Applied Clinical Project; 2020 https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd
  • Awotidebe AW, Garba NA, Tukur MA, Jibril M, Isa UL, Aliyu L. Prevalence and Factors Associated with Symptoms of Psychological Distress among Students of Allied Health Sciences in a Nigerian University. PJAHS 2022;6(1):15-22.
  • World Health Organization. The global burden of disease: In. Geneva; 2008.
  • Kerebih H, Ajaeb M, Hailesilassie H. Common mental disorders among medical students in Jimma University, SouthWest Ethiopia. Afr Health Sci. 2017;17(3):844-851.
  • Wolf S, Seiffer B, Zeibig JM, et al. Is Physical Activity Associated with Less Depression and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Rapid Systematic Review. Sports Med. 2021;51(8):1771-1783.
  • Ewah PA, Oyeyemi AY. Relation between derived cardiovascular indices, body surface area, and blood pressure/heart rate recovery among active and inactive Nigerian student. Bull Fac Phys Ther. 2022;27:34.
  • Cha H-G, Tae-Hoon K, Myoung-Kwon K. Therapeutic efficacy of walking backward and forward on a slope in normal adults. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28:1901-1903.
  • Ewah PA, Oyeyemi AY, Oyeyemi AL, et al. Comparison of exercise and physical activity routine and health status among apparently healthy Nigerian adults before and during COVID-19 lockdown: a self-report by social media users. Bull Natl Res Cent. 2022;46(1):155.
  • Esan O, Esan A, Folasire A, Oluwajulugbe P. Mental health and wellbeing of medical students in Nigeria: a systematic review. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2019;31(7-8):661-672.
  • Edméa FC, Margleice MR, Ana Teresa RS, Enaldo VM, Luiz Antonio NM, Tarcisio MA. Common mental disorders and associated factors among final-year healthcare students. Rev Assoc Med Bras 2014;60(6):525-530.
  • Kiran M, Sukhjinder, Kawalinder G, Parminder K, Harkirat. A study of mental distress in medical students. NJPPP. 2015;5(3):190-194.
  • Chateterjeec, Mandal PK, Malik S, Manna N, Sardar JC. A study on mental distress among MBBS students in medical college, Kalkata, India. Ann Trop Med Public Health. 2012;5:453-457.
  • Dachew BA, Azale Bisetegn T, Berhe Gebremariam R. Prevalence of Mental Distress and Associated Factors among Undergraduate Students of University of Gondar, NorthWest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Institutional Based Study. Plos one. 2015;10(3):e0119464.
  • Dessie Y, Ebrahim J, Awoke T. Mental distress among university students in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional survey. Pan Afr Med J. 2013;15:95.
  • Liu X, Zhu M, Zhang R, Zhang J, Zhang C, Liu P, et al. Public mental health problems during COVID-19 pandemic: a large-scale meta-analysis of the evidence. Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11:384.
  • Wu T, Jia X, Shi H, Niu J, Yin X, Xie J, et al. Prevalence of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and metaanalysis. J Affect Disord. 2021;281:91-98.
  • Bhuiyan AKMI, Sakib N, Pakpour AH, Griffiths MD, Mamun MA. COVID-19-related suicides in Bangladesh due to lockdown and economic factors: case study evidence from media reports. Int J Ment Health Addict. 2020;2020:1-6. Dsouza DD, Quadros S, Hyderabadwala ZJ, Mamun MA. Aggregated COVID19 suicide incidences in India: fear of COVID-19 infection is the prominent causative factor. Psychiatry Res. 2020;290:113145.
  • Mir IA, Ng SK, Mohd Jamali MNZ, Jabbar MARazzaq, Humayra S. Determinants and predictors of mental health during and after COVID-19 lockdown among university students in Malaysia. PLoS One. 2023;18(1):e0280562.
  • Islam MA, Barna SD, Raihan H, Khan MNA, Hossain MT. Depression and anxiety among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: a web-based cross-sectional survey. PLoS One. 2020;15:e0238162.
  • Okeke NU, Anierobi EI, Ezennaka AO. Impact Of ASUU Strike on Psychosocial Development of Academic Staff in South-East Zone of Nigerian Universities. J Guid Couns Stud. 2021;5(2):267-277.
  • Ewah PA, Womboh I, Awhen PA, Dan FAO. The UNIversity ACADemics Strike impact on the Physical, Socioeconomic and Psychological distress (UNIACADS-P2S): Study protocol of a cross-sectional study on factors predicting psychological distress among lecturers, students, and parent/guardians. Accessed July 11, 2023. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3152653/v1
  • Ewah PA, Womboh I, Awhen PA, Dan FA. The impact of university academic strike on the physical, socioeconomic and psychological distress: A proposed study protocol of a cross-sectional study on factors predicting psychological distress among lecturers, students, and parent/guardians. ABUTH International Journal of Physiotherapy & Health Sciences. 2024;24(1): 61-68.
  • Ewah PA, Womboh I, Awhen PA, Dan FA. Psychometric properties of the physical and socioeconomic-psychological distress questionnaire (PASDQ) for workers participating in industrial action. ABUTH International Journal of Physiotherapy & Health Sciences. 2024;24(1): 38-47.
  • Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The Patient Health Questionnaire-2: Validity of a Two-Item Depression Screener. Medical Care. 2003;41:1284-92.
  • Toussaint A, Hüsing P, Gumz A, Wingenfeld K, Härter M, Schramm E, Löwe B. Sensitivity to change and minimal clinically important difference of the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7). J Affect Disord. 2020;265:395-401.
  • Nayan MH, Uddin SG, Hossain I, et al. Comparison of the performance of machine learning-based algorithms for predicting depression and anxiety among University Students in Bangladesh: A result of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian J Soc Health Behav. 2022;5(2);75.
  • Patrono A, Renzetti S, Manco A, et al. COVID-19 Aftermath: Exploring the Mental Health Emergency among Students at a Northern Italian University. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(14):8587.
  • Sundarasen S, Chinna K, Kamaludin K, et al. Psychological Impact of COVID-19 and Lockdown among University Students in Malaysia: Implications and Policy Recommendations. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(17):6206.
  • Lipert A, Kozłowski R, Timler D, Marczak M, Musiał K, Rasmus P, Kamecka K, Jegier A. Physical Activity as a Predictor of the Level of Stress and Quality of Sleep during COVID-19 Lockdown. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(11):5811.
  • Chekroud SR, Gueorguieva R, Zheutlin AB, Paulus M, Krumholz HM, Krystal JH, Chekroud AM. Association between physical exercise and mental health in 1·2 million individuals in the USA between 2011 and 2015: a cross-sectional study. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(9):739-746.
  • Cao W, Fang Z, Hou G, Han M, Xu X, Dong J, Zheng J. The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China. Psychiatry Res. 2020;287:112934.
  • Zhang SX, Wang Y, Rauch A, Wei F. Unprecedented disruption of lives and work: Health, distress and life satisfaction of working adults in China one month into the COVID-19 outbreak. Psychiatry Res. 2020;288:112958.
There are 36 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Patrick Ewah 0000-0002-6981-1288

Idoo Womboh 0009-0007-6214-1115

Peter Agba Awhen 0000-0002-6761-4539

Felicia Agbor- Obun Dan This is me 0000-0002-8091-8377

Publication Date April 29, 2024
Submission Date September 2, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2024 Volume: 5 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Ewah, P., Womboh, I., Awhen, P. A., Agbor- Obun Dan, F. (2024). Associations and predictors of psychological distress among students following disruption of academic activities by strikes embarked by university workers in Nigeria public universities. International Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research, 5(1), 65-75. https://doi.org/10.53811/ijtcmr.1354228

Creative Commons License
This journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.