Perceived Effect of Academic Pressure on the Prevalence of Psychological Morbidities Among Health Sciences Students in Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria

Abstract

Students are a unique group of people who are passing from most critical period of life in which they experience many stressful events. The major aim of this study is to assess the level of perceived effect of academic pressure on the prevalence of psychological morbidity among health sciences students in Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun state. A descriptive cross sectional deign was adopted to assess the level of perceived effect of academic pressure on the prevalence of psychological morbidity among health sciences students. A semi- structured questionnaire with adapted questions from the Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale was used to obtain information on psychiatric morbidity and comorbid anxiety and depression. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.A total of 309 respondents participated, the findings revealed majority (33.7%) of students reported experiencing high levels of academic stress. Sources of this stress were primarily linked to examinations (97.4%), lack of sleep (62.3%), and heavy homework loads (58.6%). Furthermore, anxiety is the most (89.3%) prevalent psychological morbidity. The study also revealed statistically significant relationships between academic stress and levels of depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and stress (p < 0.001).
In conclusion, majority of the respondents’ experience extreme levels of academic stress and moderate to severe level of psychological morbidities. Hence, these findings show the critical need for interventions to manage academic stress and its associated psychological effects among students.