Institutional factors and mental health challenges among students in the University of Calabar, Nigeria.
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Abstract
This study adopted correlational design to established the relationship between school related factors ( in term of lecturer student relationship and school counselling)and mental health of students in University of Calabar, Nigeria. Two research questions were posed which were translated into two null hypotheses. The population for the study consists of all the twenty-six thousand four hundred and thirty-four (26,434) undergraduate students across twenty-four (24) faculties and one hundred and sixteen (116) departments for the 2023/2024 academic session. In University of Calabar of which a sample of 228 were selected via stratified and simple random sampling techniques. The instruments titled “School Related Factors and Mental Health Challenges (SRFMHCQ).” was developed by the researcher and validated by experts and used for data collection. The reliability of the questionnaire using Alpha Cronbach Method gives an average index of .85. The hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment .Correlation Coefficient at .05 level of significance.. The findings of the study revealed that school related factors (in term of lecturer student relationship and school counselling) significantly relate with mental health of students in University of Calabar, Nigeria . It was therefore concluded that mental health of students in University of Calabar, Nigeria depends on lecturer student relationship and school counselling. Based on finding and conclusion of the study, it was recommended amongst others that the university should strengthen its counseling services by increasing the number of qualified counselors, providing training on mental health issues, and promoting awareness of available resources among students.
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