EXPLORING THE CORRELATION OF PERCEIVED STRESS, PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG UNDERGRADUATES

Nnadozie, Anulika O. and Onuoha, Okechukwu C. and Enyinnaya, Innocent O. and Chinawa, Francis Chukwuemeka and Ezeh, Sandra O. (2026) EXPLORING THE CORRELATION OF PERCEIVED STRESS, PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG UNDERGRADUATES. International Journal of Innovations in Public Health Practice and Policy, 3 (2). pp. 1-14.

[img] Text
DOC-20260712-WA0002.pdf
Download (280kB)

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between perceived stress, perceived social support, and depressive symptoms among undergraduates. The study involved 397 undergraduate students from Nnamdi Azikiwe University who were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The participants comprised 178 males and 219 females, aged between 18 and 26 years, with a mean age of 20.97 years (SD = 2.12). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used for data collection. A correlational research design was adopted, and Pearson product-moment correlation analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between perceived stress and depressive symptoms (r = .29, p < .01). Furthermore, significant negative correlations were found between perceived social support from family, friends, and significant others and depressive symptoms (r = −.27, p < .01; r = −.28, p < .01; and r = −.29, p < .01, respectively). Based on these findings, it is recommended that universities implement and promote programmes that foster positive social support among students, such as peer mentoring, support groups, and community-building activities.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Faculty of Management and Social Sciences
Depositing User: Uchenna Eneogwe
Date Deposited: 24 Jul 2026 12:42
Last Modified: 24 Jul 2026 12:42
URI: http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5959

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
GOUNI Repository is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.