Prevalence and Factors Associated with Symptoms of Psychological Distress among Students of Allied Health Sciences in a Nigerian University

Abstract

Introduction: A student enrolled in Allied Health Sciences has a curriculum and academic standards that are different compared to a student enrolled in a medical programme. Nevertheless, little is known about the psychological distress of this population. Our objective was to determine whether psychological distress is prevalent in students enrolled in an Allied Health Sciences programme, as well as factors that contribute to it. Methods: Three hundred and thirty-three (333) undergraduates studying Allied Health Sciences, ages 18-30, were included in this cross-sectional study. A representative sample of students from nursing, physiotherapy, medical laboratory science, medical radiography, and optometry programmes were selected through a stratified sampling technique. A 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21 10) was used to collect data on psychological distress indicated by depression, anxiety, and stress. We fitted a multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with psychological distress among the participants. Results: As a result of the study, 58.9% reported depression, 66.1% reported anxiety, and 45.1% reported stress. Depression (AOR= 3.23; 95% CI: 1.33- 7.81), anxiety (AOR= 3.33;95% CI:1.34- 8.26) and stress (AOR= 2.58;95% CI: 1.14- 5.85) were associated with family history of mental illness. Poor academic performance was associated with anxiety (OR=2.75; 95% CI: 1.35- 5.61) and stress (OR=2.00; 95% CI: 1.05-3.81). Conclusions: The prevalence of psychological distress among allied health sciences students is high, especially among students with poor academic performance and those with a family history of mental illness. Psychological distress can be prevented with early detection and awareness programmes.