RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACADEMIC STRESS AND DEPRESSION AMONG STUDENTS OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

The study examined the relationship between academic stress and depression among students of Federal universities in South-west, Nigeria. A descriptive survey of correlational type was employed for the study. A simple random sampling method was used to select 420 respondents from six Federal universities in Southwest, Nigeria, but 398 were properly retrieved and analyzed. Data collection was conducted using the “Academic Stress and Depression Questionnaire (ASDQ).” The findings revealed high levels of academic stress and depression among respondents in Federal universities in South-west, Nigeria. A notable relationship was found between academic stress and depression among respondents. Furthermore, variables such as gender, age, class level, and course of study significantly predict academic stress and depression among respondents. It is therefore recommended that students should utilize guidance and counselling services available at their universities when dealing with academic stress, as this can help in preventing depression and its related consequences.