SUICIDAL IDEATION AMONGST UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: PREDICTIVE STRENGTHS OF PERCEIVED ACADEMIC STRESS, SUBSTANCE USE AND NEUROTICISM IN SELECTED INSTITUTIONS IN LAGOS STATE

Authors

  • Alimi Muniru AJALA

Keywords:

Substance use, Perceived Academic Stress, Neuroticism and Suicidal Ideation

Abstract

                         The study investigated suicidal ideation amongst undergraduate students: predictive strengths of perceived academic stress, substance use and neuroticism. A correlational research design was adopted. A total number of four hundred and seventy-three (473) undergraduate students which consisted of two hundred and forty-seven (247) males and two hundred and twenty-six (226) females was used for the study. The researcher sampled two hundred and fifty (250) undergraduate students from Lagos State University and two hundred and twenty-three (223) students from the University of Lagos Akoka using convenient sampling. A structured questionnaire which comprised of Perceived Academic Stress scale, Substance Screening Scale, Neuroticism Scale and Suicidal Ideation Scale (SIS) was used to collect data. Two hypotheses were tested and results revealed that suicidal ideation had significant positive relationship with substance use (r=.40; p<.05), perceived stress (r=.29; p<.05) and neuroticism (r=.68; p<.01). The results also showed that substance use and neuroticism jointly predicted suicidal ideation (R2 = .651; F=8.35; p<.01). The total variation of all predictors accounted for 65% of the variance observable on measure of suicidal ideation. Furthermore, significant independent contribution of substance use (b = .015; p<.05) and neuroticism (b = .102; p<.05) was observed on measure of suicidal ideation.  Results of this study were discussed with relevant past research findings and recommendation made at the end of the study. 

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2021-05-25

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