Depression, anxiety, stress and coping strategies among undergraduates in a public and a private university in Osun State Nigeria using a comparative cross-sectional design

Abstract This study compared depression, anxiety and stress symptoms and examined their associated factors among undergraduates in a public university and private university in Osun State, Nigeria. A comparative cross-sectional design was used. Of 387 questionnaires distributed, 340 were returned (87.9%), while 322 sufficiently completed questionnaires were analysed, comprising 161 students from each institution. Data were collected using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 and an adapted 15-item Brief COPE questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square/Fisher–Freeman–Halton tests, Spearman correlation with Benjamini-Hochberg correction, and pooled binary logistic regression. Moderate-or-higher depression occurred among 19.3% of public and 36.0% of private university students. Depression severity differed significantly between institutions, χ² (4) = 19.60, p<0.001, while private university students had higher adjusted odds of depression (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.08–3.50). Moderate-or-higher anxiety occurred in 49.7% of students in both institutions, with no significant institutional difference (p = 0.298). Moderate-or-higher stress occurred among 9.9% and 19.3%, respectively, with no significant severity difference (p = 0.106). Denial and Self-Critical Disengagement Coping was positively associated with depression, anxiety and stress in both institutions. Academic dissatisfaction was associated with depression and anxiety, while previous course failure was associated with anxiety. The study concludes that depression showed the clearest institutional difference, while coping and academic experiences were important correlates of psychological symptoms. Universities should strengthen accessible mental-health services, academic support and coping-skills interventions for undergraduate students.