EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPRESSION ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN HEALTH EDUCATION AMONG STUDENTS IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
The study investigated exploring the impact of nutritional status and psychological depression on
academic achievement in health education among students in colleges of education in Ogun State,
Nigeria. Three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted
descriptive survey design. The study was carried out in all the five accredited colleges of education
in Ogun State. The population of the study was 665,456 which comprised all the male and female
public all the five accredited colleges of education in Ogun State. The sample for the study was
500 respondents which comprised 253 male and 247 female students selected through purposive
sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a researcher developed questionnaire
titled “Nutritional Status and Psychological Depression on Students’ Academic Achievement
Questionnaire” (NSPDSAAQ). Face validation was done by three experts. Mean and standard
deviation were used in answering the research questions while Pearson Chi-square test and
independent sample t-test were used to test the three null hypotheses at .05 level of significance.
The hypotheses formulated are nutritional status of students and academic achievement of students
in Health education (Pearson chi-square value 15.619a, sig. 0.035 < 0.05), psychological
depression of students and academic achievement of students in Health education (Pearson chisquare value 507.358a sig. 0.000 < 0.05) and mental health of students of students and academic
achievement of students in Health education (t-test value t (499, -9.481 = 0.000 < 0.05). All the
stated null hypotheses were rejected at 0.05 level of significant. The study found that poor mental
health status as manifested in anxiety/insomnia, severe depression and social dysfunction
influenced colleges of education health education students’ academic achievement negatively to a
high extent. It also leads to dropout of students, lack of concentration and comprehension, abuse
of drug and alcohol; frustration and committing of suicide by students amongst others. The study
recommends that students exhibiting symptoms of poor mental health should seek help from the
school guidance counsellor on time; considering the importance of the mental health status in the
students, all stakeholders in education should pay more attention to this issue among the students
and provide them with psychological support systems and counselling centers among others.
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