Mental Health And Attitude Towards Education Of Secondary School Students In Nigeria.

Abstract

Objective: Student mental health is of immense public health importance, factors that are associated with students' mental health and their success in school such as attitude towards education must be investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of psychomorbidity, the association, if any, between psychomorbidity and negative attitude towards education, and identify correlates associated with psychomorbidity in a sample of Nigerian students. Methods: Seven hundred, selected using a stratified random sampling technique, completed the Socio-demographic Data Interview Schedule, the Modified Mitchell's Attitude Towards Education Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire (version 30). Results: About four out of ten students had psychopathology. Two out three students with psychopathology had negative attitude towards education (odds ratio of 3.7; 95% confidence interval = 2.982-4.592). Significant predictors of psychopathology among students were negative attitude towards education and parental occupation. Conclusion: Results from this study suggest that magnitude of psychomorbidity among students is high and that psychomorbidity is associated with negative attitude towards education, poor parental educational level and poor socioeconomic status.


Keywords: Student mental health, attitude towards education, psychomorbidity.

IFE PsychologIA Vol. 16 (2) 2008: pp. 169-177