Personal variables and prevalence of depression among secondary school students in Edo State

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of depression among secondary school students in Edo State. The descriptive survey design was adopted in the study. The population of this study covered all the parents of the three hundred and twenty seven and two hundred and sixty seven (327,267)Senior Secondary School (SSS) students in all the public secondary schools in Edo State. A sample of three hundred and seventy two (372) senior secondary school students was used for the study. The simple sampling technique was used as the sampling technique. One percent (1%) of the schools and senior secondary school students were drawn from each of the 18 local government areas. Data was collected using the prevalence depression Questionnaire (PDQ). Descriptive statistics such as frequency count and frequency (%) were used to analyse the research questions. Findings revealed that the prevalence of depression among secondary school students in Edo State was high as indicated by: mood changes at the slightest turn of an event, feelings of sadness, state of slight hopelessness, feelings of disappointment when efforts on an activity fails, restless to be point of having panic attacks, provocation over little issues, sleeplessness, feelings of stress on easily on things, anxious when they cannot get something done, and feelings of worries to the point of almost taking one's life. The result further showed that there is a significant difference between the male and female, young and older secondary school students on the prevalence of depression in secondary schools in the study area. It was recommended that balanced combination of social and emotional mind training among undergraduates should be encouraged by university administrator and educator to facilitate the early identification and management of depression among students.