Prevalence of Psychological Distress Among First-Year University Students in Tanzania

Abstract

iversity students in Tanzania and to explore the association between psychological distress with institution, gender, and intimate  relationships. A cross-sectional design was used to attain the study objective. 374 first-year students from selected universities in  Dodoma were sampled using stratified random sampling. Psychological distress was measured using the K10 scale questionnaire and  interviews. Data from the questionnaire were descriptively analysed to generate frequency and percentages, while those from interviews  were thematically analysed. Inferential statistics, such as the Pearson correlation coefficient and the Chi-test of association, were also  used to assess associations between PD, institution, intimacy relationships, and gender. Results revealed that 38% of first-year university  students had severe psychological distress, 46.5% had medium levels of psychological distress; only 15.5% were found to have low  psychological distress. It was also found that the nature of the institution, interpersonal relationships, gender, family background, and  economic status were associated with psychological distress among students. This study recommends that universities prioritise  students' mental health by providing adequate resources and support to address these challenges.