Abstract

This study investigated the extent to which psychological variables influence mental health among postgraduate students in South-South, Nigeria. One research question and one null hypothesis guided the study. The study adopted a correlation research design. The sample for the study consisted of 1 167 (671 males and 496 female) drawn through multistage sampling techniques from a total population of 5906 postgraduate students in five federal universities in South-South, Nigeria. Two instruments namely: Psychological Variables Scale (PVS) and Postgraduate Student Mental Health Questionnaire (PSMHQ) were developed by researcher and validated by three experts: one Clinical Psychologist, a counsellor and one expert from Measurement and Evaluation; all from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka respectively. The internal consistency of the instruments was determined through use of Cronbach Alpha method and reliability indices of 0.92 and 0.88 were obtained for PCS and PSMHQ, respectively. The data obtained through the administration of the instruments were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation to answer the research question while Multiple Regression Analysis was used to test null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Scheffe test was also done for a step-wise comparison of the means for hypothesis. The study revealed that: there is a significant joint influence between psychological counselling variables (anxiety, depression, self-esteem and confidence, relationship and family issues, suicidal thoughts, and feelings of anger) and mental health among postgraduate students. One can observe that the joint influence of psychological COdnfaniilv 'i«iipbJCS dcPression, self-esteem and confidence, relationship and family issues, suicida thoughts r r \ u j , • f percentage contribution of 99 8% ta L nKt i 88 a"8er) ITy Sh postgraduate students. Howeve feeline of '"'T? T", am°"S H nf mo/. r ,, Cr’ tcelln8 °f anger had the highest percentage C01 f. jh fo.llowed by anxiety with 18.7%, self-esteem and C°th 14 8°/ and lastlvd at’°nship and family issues with 15.1%, suicidal thought W^n7nlsn.S TfreSS,°n Which predicKd >3”4 °f hcalth oo'oog 8 Xfd in every rd 15 rascarc'1 showed that counselling services should be provided in every educational institute Keywords: Psychological Variables, Mental Health, Postgraduate Studen