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. 2023 Jan 11;13(1):580.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-27608-1.

Students stress patterns in a Kenyan socio-cultural and economic context: toward a public health intervention

Victoria N Mutiso  1   2 , David M Ndetei  3   4   5 , Esther N Muia  6 , Christine Musyimi  1   2 , Monicah Masake  6 , Tom L Osborn  7   8   9 , Andre Sourander  10 , John R Weisz  9 , Daniel Mamah  11
Affiliations

Students stress patterns in a Kenyan socio-cultural and economic context: toward a public health intervention

Victoria N Mutiso et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

This study aimed at determining the prevalence of stress, different types of stress, their severity and their determinants in Kenyan university, college and high school students. The following tools were administered to 9741 students: (1) Researcher-designed socio-demographic tool, (2) Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire (PDSQ) for psychiatric disorders, (3) WERC Stress Screen for stress, (4) Washington Early Recognition Center Affectivity and Psychosis (WERCAP) screen for psychosis and affectivity, (5) Wealth Index Questionnaire for economic indicators. Descriptive analysis for the prevalence of different types of stress and inferential analysis for stress and independent variables were done. Significant variables (p < 0.05) were fitted into generalized linear model to determine independent predictors. The mean age of the respondents was 21.4 years (range 16-43). Money issues were the commonest stressors while alcohol and drug use were the least. The independent predictors of stress were females, college students and use of gas stove. In conclusion, up to 30% of the students suffer from mild to severe stress. The students experience a wide range of stressors. The most important stressors include money and finances, family related problems and concerns about their future. Our findings suggest a public health approach to create stress awareness in students.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Individual endorsements to various stressors in life.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean and standard deviation WERCAP stress items scores.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean WERCAP stress items scores.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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