Department of Nursing, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
J Prev Med Hyg. 2021 Jul 30;62(2):E285-E295. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2021.62.2.1798. eCollection 2021 Jun.
The curtailment of social gatherings and the lack of online academic engagement during the COVID-19 lockdown could have potentially damaging effects on the psychological state of university students in Nigerian public universities. This study examined the prevalence of anxiety and depression, including associated factors and coping methods, among undergraduate students.
This cross-sectional study, which involved 386 undergraduate students, was assigned approval number UI/EC/20/0242. An online questionnaire consisting mainly of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the McMaster Family Assessment Device was circulated among the students. The results were analysed by means of descriptive statistics, chi-square, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and linear logistical regression, at α 0.05.
Mean age was 21 ± 2.9 years, with females constituting 60.1% of the sample. The prevalence rates of anxiety and depression were 41.5 and 31.9%, respectively. Students in health-related faculties were significantly less anxious than others. Inability to afford three square meals, negative family functioning, chronic illness and living in a State/Region with a high incidence of COVID-19 were significantly associated with depression. These factors jointly accounted for 14% of depression. Coping methods included the use of social media, watching movies and participating in online skills-development programs.
The overall level of anxiety and depression among undergraduate students during the COVID-19 lockdown was higher than the levels previously reported. Inadequate nutrition and poor family functioning contributed significantly to this. Proactive measures ought to be taken to support undergraduate students in order to prevent the negative consequences of poor mental health.
在 COVID-19 封锁期间，社交聚会的减少和缺乏在线学术参与，可能对尼日利亚公立大学的大学生的心理状态产生潜在的破坏性影响。本研究调查了焦虑和抑郁的流行率，包括相关因素和应对方法，研究对象为本科生。
这是一项横断面研究，涉及 386 名本科生，获得了 UI/EC/20/0242 号批准。主要由医院焦虑和抑郁量表和麦克马斯特家庭评估工具组成的在线问卷分发给学生。结果采用描述性统计、卡方检验、方差分析（ANOVA）和线性逻辑回归进行分析，α 值为 0.05。
平均年龄为 21 ± 2.9 岁，女生占样本的 60.1%。焦虑和抑郁的患病率分别为 41.5%和 31.9%。医学相关专业的学生焦虑程度明显较低。无法负担三餐、家庭功能不良、慢性疾病和居住在 COVID-19 高发州/地区与抑郁显著相关。这些因素共同解释了 14%的抑郁。应对方法包括使用社交媒体、看电影和参加在线技能发展计划。
在 COVID-19 封锁期间，本科生的整体焦虑和抑郁水平高于之前报告的水平。营养不足和家庭功能不良对此有重大贡献。应该采取积极措施，为本科生提供支持，以防止心理健康不良的负面影响。
