Academic Self-Efficacy and Substance Use Among Undergraduate Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State

Students’ academic self-efficacy significantly affects their academic achievement and health. Students with low sense of academic self-efficacy choose to avoid challenges and academic stress, thereby resorting to substance use as the best way to relieve academic stress. This is a cross-sectional study conducted between July 2023 and October 2023 to determine the prevalence of substance use and influence of academic self-efficacy and certain socio-demographic variables on substance use among undergraduate students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Consecutive sampling technique was used to select 373 respondents from the four campuses and pre-tested questionnaire on substance use (QSU) and General self-efficacy scale (GSE) were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 and then summarized in tables of frequency and percentages. Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine differences in academic self -efficacy between substance and non-substance users. Chi-square was used to test the influence of age, gender, academic level of study, location of campus on substance use and binary logistic regression was used to determine the predictor effect of gender and age on substance use. Results showed high prevalence of substance use (46.5%). Alcohol was the most commonly used substance (42.2%). Substance users have low mean score (29.08) of academic self -efficacy compared to non-substance users (32.40) and this is significant (p = 0.014). Age, gender, current level of study and location of campus showed significant influence to substance use (P<0.001). Supportive academic environments which can promote students’ self-efficacy should be created by lecturers and university management.