PATH ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING DEPRESSION AMONG FUNAAB UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Depression has become a prevalent mental illness that affects one out of every twenty persons at one point in their lifetime. It has been reported that depression can develop at any age and there are quite a number of factors that could lead an individual into depression. The aim of this research is to establish the effect of four selected factors influencing depression among FUNAAB students namely; Sexual Risk Behaviour-, Alcohol usage-, Bullying-Victimization- and Academic Performance -. Studies have examined the effects of each factor on depression separately, but this study improved on these by investigating the total, direct and indirect effect of each and all these factors on Depression using Path Analysis. A well-structured questionnaire was developed to source for data. The instrument reliability was checked for effectiveness using Cronbach Reliability Test. 39.6% of the respondents’ showed signs of depression; Academic Performance, Alcohol usage and Bullying-victimization all contributed significantly to the presence of depression. While a unit increase in others will increase the level of depression, a good academic performance will reduce the effect and chances that a student will be depressed. Hence, efforts should be made to help cushion the effect of the independent factors on depression.