MENTAL HEALTH AND ASSOCIATED ACADEMIC AND LIFESTYLE FACTORS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Abstract
The pressure of academics, lifestyle and social issues have made mental health issues among university students to become a worldwide issue of concern. This study aims to explore the rate of stress, anxiety and depression among university students and to determine the relationship between these variables and academic, lifestyle, and social variables. The study was quantitative and cross-sectional, using a secondary data of 100 students in the university. The operationalization of mental health was based on stress level, depression score, and anxiety score and the independent variables were academic factors (CGPA and semester credit load), lifestyle factors (sleep quality, physical activity, and diet), and social factors (social support and financial stress). Descriptive statistics indicated that the level of stress, anxiety, and depression were moderate, and the most salient problem was stress. The correlation analysis findings demonstrated that the level of stress was significantly connected to financial stress, and academic workload was significantly connected to anxiety. The graphical analysis also showed that stress and anxiety were related to low levels of physical activity and low levels of sleep quality. Social support proved to be a buffer in reducing mental health issues. The findings suggest that mental health in students within the university is multifactorial with academic, lifestyle and social variables being the most significant determinant of mental health. The paper discusses the role of holistic interventions, including improved counseling services, support of healthy lifestyles, and managing academic workload, to enhance the well-being of students.
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