BRAIN FAG SYMPTOMS AMONG BLACK SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

The study investigated brain fag symptoms in South African university students. A Cultural Orientation Scale, a Student Stress Scale, and a Self Reporting Questionnaire were administered to collect data on socioeconomic background, cultural orientation, stress events, neurotic disorder and brain fag symptoms. The sample consisted of 185 first year social science students from the University of the North, South Africa. The students were 79 (42.7%) male, and 106 (57.3%) female, in the age range of 18 to 32 years (M = 21.4 years, SD = 4.1). Results indicated that 17.7% of the students had often brain fag symptoms of unpleasant sensations (burning, crawling, heat, cold) associated with studying. There was a positive significant relationship between depression and somatic complaints score of the Self Reporting Questionnaire brain fag symptoms indicating a depressive and somatoform syndrome. Sex, cultural orientation, socioeconomic status, and student stress were not associated with brain fag symptoms. The findings are discussed in relation to the nature of brain fag symptoms and associated factors.


Southern African Jnl Child and Adolescent Mental Health Vol.14(2) 2002: 115-122