ASSESSMENT OF PERCEIVED STRESS AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG OFFICER CADETS OF NIGERIAN DEFENCE ACADEMY KADUNA

Ibrahim Ignatius Felix Ruwan, Musa Yusuf Garba, Nafisat Suleiman Ogah, Iliya Vakpa, Andrew E. Zamani

Abstract


This study focused on first year officer cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna and had the following objectives: to assess the level of stress, to determine the symptoms of general mental health and to establish relationship between stress and general mental health amongst first year officer’s cadets of NDA. A survey design cross sectional in nature was applied where a purposive and convenient sample of 150 officers’ cadets completed the questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed demographic data as well as stress level and mental health of first year officer’s cadets. Data obtained was analyzed using Independent t-test and Pearson correlation analysis. Results in hypothesis 1 clearly revealed that first year officer cadets of NDA Kaduna on training experienced high level of stress (t (129) = 0.383; P > .05)...While findings in hypothesis 2 confirmed general symptoms of mental health among first year officer cadets of NDA Kaduna.: Anxiety have statistically significant (r (172) = 0.152, P < 0.05) relationship with general symptoms of mental health while PTSD, Emotional. Imbalance long hour training and workload revealed a statistically significant relationship with general symptoms of mental health among chosen officer cadets of NDA Kaduna. The results also indicated that Anxiety has a significant relationship on first year officer cadets of NDA Kaduna (r = 0.217, P < 0.05), PSTD (r = 0.274, P < 0.05), Stress disorder (r = 0.232, P < 0.05) and Emotional imbalance, long hour training and workload (r = 0.415). It also shows that Anxiety has a significant relationship with stress (r = 0.286, P < 0.05) and PSTD (r = 0.200, P < 0.05) as well as Emotional imbalance, long hour training and workload (r = 0.373, P < 0.05). Hypothesis 3 established a significant relationship between stress and mental health among first year officer cadets of NDA Kaduna. (r (137) = -0.040; p<0.05). Psychosocial interventions and curriculum review was recommended.

Keywords


Assessment, Officer Cadets, Mental Health, Perceived Stress, NDA Kaduna

Full Text:

PDF

References


Anumonye, A. (1980). Brain Fag syndrome. Lausanne: International Council Alcohol and

CareerCast. (2018) Rates Least and Most Stressful Jobs. Retrieved: http://www.careercast.com/jobs-rated/2018-least-stressful-jobs

Chaturvedula S, and Joseph C. (2007); Dimensions of psychological well-being and personality in military aircrew: A preliminary study. Indian Journal of Aerospace Medicine, 51(2): 17–27.

Cheng C, and Cheung M. (2005); Cognitive processes underlying coping flexibility: Differentiation and integration. Journal of Personality; 73(4): 859–886.

Chiteraka, L. (2005). Stress among professional social workers in Africa: Causes effects and Suggested Ways of Handling Stress .In S.N. Madu& S. Govender (Eds).Mental Health and Psychotherapy in Africa.Polokwane: University Press

Cooper, C. L., Cooper, C. P., Dewe, P. J., Dewe, P. J., O'Driscoll, M. P., &O'Driscoll, M. P. (2001). Organizational stress: A review and critique of theory, research, and applications.

Dashit S.I (2014); Introduction to Psychology. Jos : Genius Integrated Concepts.

Division of Occupational Psychology (2009); Working Group on Health and Well-being in the Work place. White Paper–Psychological well-being at work.The British Psychological Society St. Andrews House, 48 Princess Road East, UK: Leicester LE1 7DR

Fickova E. (2002). Impact of negative emotionality on coping with stress in adolescents. Studia Psychologica, 44(3); 219–226.

Folkman S, and Lazarus RS.(1991); Coping and emotion. In Stress and coping, New York: Columbia University Press

Folkman S, and Moskowitz J. (2004); Coping: Pitfalls and promise. Annual Review of Psychology, 55: 745–774.

Gibson, D. M., & Myers, J. E. (2006). Perceived stress, wellness, and mattering: a profile of first-year citadel cadets. Journal of College Student Development, 47(6), 647-660.

Heidenreich, P. A., Trogdon, J. G., Khavjou, O. A., Butler, J.et al (2011). Forecasting the future of cardiovascular disease in the United States: a policy statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 123(8), 933-944..

Huppert FA. (2009); Psychological well‐being: Evidence regarding its causes and consequences. Applied Psychology: Health and Well‐Being, 1(2): 137–164.

Kirsten TJ, etal. (2009); Health, well-being and wellness: An anthropological eco-systemic approach. Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Science,14(1): 1–7.

Lahey, B. B. (2009). Public health significance of neuroticism. American Psychologist, 64(4), 241.

Lazarus R, and Folkman S. (1984); Stress, Appraisal and Coping. New York, Springer Publishing Cooper C.L.; Dewe P.J.; O'Driscoll M.P. (2001); Organizational Stress: A Review and Critique of Theory, Research, and Applications. (ed.), Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications

Lazarus RS.(1966); Psychological Stress and the Coping Process. New York: McGraw-Hill

Lazarus, R. S., &Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping.Springer publishing company.

Malebo, A. , Van Eeden, C., &Wissing , M.P. (2007). Sport Participants , Mental-Well-being and Psychosocial Development in a Group of Youth Black Adults . South African Journal of Psychology . 27(1), 188-206

Malefo, V. (2000). Psychosocial Factors and Academic Performance Among African Women Students at a predominantly White University in South Africa . Journal of Psychology , 30(4), 40-45

McGowan, J., Gardner, D., & Fletcher, R. (2006).Positive and negative affective outcomes of occupational stress. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 35(2), 92.

Moe K. (2012); Factors influencing women’s psychological well-being within a positive functioning framework.Unpublished doctoral thesis, University of Kentucky, Lexington, United States

Musisi S, Kinyanda E, Nakasujja N, Nakigudde J.(2007) A comparison of the behavioral and emotional disorders of primary school-going orphans and non-orphans in Uganda. Afr Health Sci. 7(4):202-13.

Naik, G. V., Shalaev, V. M., &Boltasseva, A. (2013). Alternative plasmonic materials: beyond gold and silver. Advanced Materials, 25(24), 3264-3294.

O’Driscoll M, &Brough P. (2003); Job stress and burnout.Organisational Psychology in Australia and New Zealand, 188–211.

Ovuga, E. (2005)Depression and Suicidal Behaviour in Uganda , Kampala: Makere University

Ovuga, E. , Boardman, J. . & Wasserman, D. (2006). Undergraduate Students Mental Health at Makerere University Uganda. World Psychiatry , 5 (1), 51-52.

Ovuga, E., Boardman, J., & Wasserman, D. (2005).The prevalence of depression in two districts of Uganda. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 40(6), 439-445.

Passer, B. J., Castelo-Branco, P., etal (2009). Oncolytic herpes simplex virus vectors and taxanes synergize to promote killing of prostate cancer cells. Cancer gene therapy, 16(7), 551-560.

Peltzer, K. (2004). Stress , Mental Health and Psychological Symptoms, Social Support and Health Behaviour Among Black Students in South Africa. Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 14 (2), 115-122.

Pestonjee, D. M., & Mishra, P. K. (1999).Role stress and job satisfaction amongst doctors. Journal of Health Management, 1(1), 117-131.

Ross, N. J. & Moller, A.T. (1988). Stress: Hanteer Dit Self. Cape Town: Human en Rousseau.

Ross, S. E., Niebling, B. C., &Heckert, T. M. (1999).Sources of stress among college students. College student journal, 33(2), 312-312.

Schoeman JD. (2012); The relationship between workplace wellbeing, psychological capital and workplace trust. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Selye, H. (1976). Stress without distress. In Psychopathology of human adaptation (pp. 137-146).Springer, Boston, MA.

Shahasavarani,A.M., Abadi., E.A. &Kalkhoran., M.H.(2015). Stress: Facts and Theories through Literature Reviews. International Journal of volume Medical Reviews, volume 2, Issue2, Spring 2015: 230-241.

Sharma M, and Romas J. (2012); Theoretical Foundations of Health Education and Health Promotion, 2nd ed., USA: Jones & Bartlett Learning

Stajkovic, A. D., &Luthans, F. (1998). Self-efficacy and work-related performance: A meta-analysis. Psychological bulletin, 124(2), 240.

Stults-Kolehmainen, M. A. (2013). The interplay between stress and physical activity in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Frontiers in physiology, 4, 346

Sullivan, R. M., &Gratton, A. (2002). Prefrontal cortical regulation of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal function in the rat and implications for psychopathology: side matters. Psych neuroendocrinology, 27(1-2), 99-114.

Sun, J., Huang, S. H., Zhu, Y. C.,etal (2005). Anti-oxidative stress effects of Herbaleonuri on ischemic rat hearts. Life Sciences, 76(26), 3043-3056.

Thoits, P. A. (1983). Dimensions of life events that influence psychological distress: An evaluation and synthesis of the literature. Psychosocial stress, 33-103.

Vuori, J., &Vinokur, A. D. (2005).Job‐search preparedness as a mediator of the effects of the Työhön Job Search Intervention on re‐employment and mental health. Journal of Organizational Behavior: The International Journal of Industrial, Occupational and Organizational Psychology and Behavior, 26(3), 275-291.

Whiteman, N,A. et al (1985)Students Stress: Effects and Solutions. Washington DC. Association for the study of Higher Education.ERIC Clearinghouse on Higher Education.ERIC Digest85-1.

Wilhelm K, etal (2002); Gender differences in depression risk and coping factors in a clinical sample.Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 106(1); 45–53.

Wright TA. (2010); The role of employee wellbeing in organizational research. In Linley P.A., Harrington S. &Garcea N. (eds.), Oxford handbook of positive psychology and work (Pp. 143–154). New York, USA: Oxford University Press


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2021 Ibrahim Ignatius Felix Ruwan, Musa Yusuf Garba, Nafisat Suleiman Ogah, Iliya Vakpa, Andrew E. Zamani

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ISSN (PRINT):    2682 - 6135

ISSN (ONLINE): 2682 - 6127

 

 

   

 

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.