Alcohol dependence, social anxiety and psychological well-being: a comparative study among Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye undergraduates in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the influence of alcohol dependence on social anxiety and psychological well being by comparatively studying undergraduates from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye (OOU) and Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti (EKSU). A total of 191 students drawn from the two institutions participated in the study, using the snowball sampling technique. They included 96 from Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti (41 females and 55 males) and 95 from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye (48 females and 47 males). Alcohol Dependence Scale, General Health Questionnaire (28), and Social Interaction Anxiety Scale were used to measure alcohol dependence, psychological well being and social anxiety respectively. Four hypotheses were generated and tested using both the t-test and the Analysis of Variance. Results of data analysis revealed that alcohol dependence significantly affects social anxiety [r (191) = -.162, P,.05]. It was also shown that alcohol dependence has a significant influence on social dysfunction [t (189) = 2.32, P<.01] and anxiety insomnia [t (189) = 1.86, P<.05] (two of the four sub-scales of psychological well-being). Results also revealed a significant difference in alcohol dependence between students from institutions [F (1,190) = 11.48, P<.05] with Ekiti State University undergraduates (x=14.16) being more dependent on alcohol than their Olabisi Onabanjo University undergraduate (x=9.37) counterparts; and that males are significantly highly dependent on alcohol than their female counterparts. Findings from the study were discussed in line with available literature and it was recommended that undergraduates should be properly guided by both the law enforcement agents, parents and school administrators while also being exposed to the consequences of drug, especially alcohol, dependence and the use of illicit substances.

Keywords: Alcohol Dependence, Social Anxiety, Psychological well being, Undergraduates