International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET International Open Access, Monthly, Peer Reviewed, Reputed Journal ISSN (online): 2581-3048

Impact Factor (2025): 6.9

DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET

The Prevalence of Generalized Anxiety among Health Students in the Lagos State Teaching Hospital

Dr. Adedapo Adeniyi Ph.D.Principal Consultant, PhenoPatmos Global Consulting and Mental Health Professional, Alcedo, United Kingdom

Vol 8 No 9 (2024): Volume 8, Issue 9, September 2024 | Pages: 156-164

International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology

OPEN ACCESS | Research Article | Published Date: 26-09-2024

doi Logo doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2024.809019

pdf iconFull Text PDF
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among medical students in Nigeria, the impact of socio-demographic factors associated with generalized anxiety disorder, and the efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral therapy in the management of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms. This study involved 277 medical students (62 males and 215 females). This study used a multistage design (survey and experiment). The survey design was utilized to determine the prevalence of generalized anxiety among medical students, whereas the experimental approach was used for therapy (cognitive behavioral method). Data was collected using a questionnaire, and the given hypotheses were tested using descriptive statistics and an independent t-test. The study examined two hypotheses, and both were approved. The findings revealed that Cognitive-Behavioral therapy is useful in managing the symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Male participants had significantly higher scores on Generalized Anxiety Disorder than female individuals. The findings were discussed in light of the associated literature that was reviewed.

Keywords

Generalized Anxiety, Health Students, disorder, medical students, anxiety disorder, symptoms


Citation of this Article

Dr. Adedapo Adeniyi, Ph.D. (2024). The Prevalence of Generalized Anxiety among Health Students in the Lagos State Teaching Hospital. International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET, 8(9), 156-164. Article DOI https://doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2024.809019

Licence Copyright (c) 2026 International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology creative common licence This work is licensed under Creative common Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 Internation Licence
References
  1. Abdullahi, A. (2017). Prevalence and socio-demographic characteristics of generalized anxiety disorder among patients at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital’s general outpatient clinic. Journal of Anxiety and Depression Studies, 24(3), 215-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jads.2017.01.003
  2. Adegboye, A. O., Olabisi, T. S., & Agbaje, O. A. (2023). Efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy in reducing generalized anxiety disorder symptoms among medical students in southwestern Nigeria. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 21(2), 87-96.
  3. Adewuya, A. O., Ologun, Y. A., & Oginni, O. O. (2022). The burden of anxiety disorders among medical students in Nigeria: Prevalence and associated factors. Journal of Medical Education, 12(3), 45-55.
  4. Adewuya, A., Atilola, O., Ola, B., Coker, A., Zachariah, T., Olugbile, O., Fasawe, A., & Idris, T. (2018). Prevalence of depression and generalized anxiety disorder in Lagos State, Nigeria: Results from a household survey. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 21(7), 849-856. https://doi.org/10.4103/njcp.njcp_106_18
  5. Adeyemi, M. O., Bello, A. S., &Olanrewaju, T. A. (2022). Socio-demographic and genetic predictors of generalized anxiety disorder in Nigeria. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 34(1), 14-23.
  6. Akinwale, K. B., Adeyemi, M. T., & Abiola, O. F. (2023). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for managing academic-related anxiety among Nigerian medical students. Journal of Medical Education and Counseling, 19(1), 55-64.
  7. Bandura, A. (2021). Social learning theory. Prentice Hall. [This book provides an updated view on the application of SLT, though a specific edition or year of the book should be verified based on the most recent edition available.]
  8. Cheah, S. P., Azahadi, O., Phang, Y. K., & Manaf, H. (2019). Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health factors associated with depression and generalized anxiety disorder among adults in Malaysia. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 17(5), 1324-1340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00176-3
  9. Fasoranti, R. B., &Aliu, A. G. (2022). Life events and anxiety: The role of marriage and childbirth in the onset of generalized anxiety disorder. African Journal of Mental Health, 10(2), 44-57.
  10. Georgantas, N., Tsounis, S., Vidakis, T., Malliarou, M., &Sarafis, P. (2020). Socio-demographic factors related to anxiety and depression in navy veterans: A cross-sectional study. Veterans Mental Health Journal, 12(2), 94-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vmhj.2020.01.007
  11. Ghaffari, M., &Amini, M. (2023). Social learning and its impact on mental health among university students: A review. Journal of Educational Psychology, 115(4), 758-770.
  12. Gillett, G., Bilek, E., Hanna, S., & Fitzgerald, T. (2018). Intolerance of uncertainty in youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder: Phenomenology and treatment implications. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 59(8), 891-902. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12854
  13. Gureje, O., Lasebikan, V. O., Kola, L., &Makanjuola, V. A. (2018). Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of mental disorders in the Nigerian survey of mental health and well-being. Psychological Medicine, 48(10), 1678-1685. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291718002742
  14. Herbert, J. D., &Dugas, M. J. (2019). Behavioral experiments for intolerance of uncertainty: A novel CBT protocol for generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 62, 87-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.11.009
  15. Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2018). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 42(2), 91–105.
  16. Ibrahim, M., Abdelrahman, N., & Hassan, A. (2023). Anxiety and depression among medical students: A cross-sectional study in two Nigerian universities. Journal of Mental Health Research, 15(1), 25–35.
  17. Mahoney, C., McEvoy, P. M., & Ferguson, S. G. (2021). Perfectionism and its relationship with anxiety, depression, and stress in medical students. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 83, 102420.
  18. Nakai, T., & Goto, S. (2022). Stress and coping strategies among healthcare students: A Social Learning Theory perspective. Health Education Journal, 81(2), 165-178.
  19. Ogunleye, K. J., Salami, T. I., & Balogun, A. O. (2022). Marital status and anxiety disorders: An exploration of the Nigerian population. Journal of Social Psychiatry, 17(3), 201-210.
  20. Olatunde, S. J., & Omole, R. T. (2022). The impact of cognitive-behavioral therapy on social anxiety and academic performance among Nigerian medical students. African Journal of Psychiatry, 18(3), 122-131.
  21. Olatunji, F. R., Yakubu, A. L., & Oduola, A. A. (2023). The prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder across age groups: A study of Nigerian adults. West African Journal of Psychiatry, 15(2), 91-98.
  22. Olawale, E. O., Afolabi, O. F., & Omolayo, B. O. (2023). Family structure and life events as predictors of generalized anxiety disorder in Nigeria. Journal of Family and Mental Health, 21(1), 56-65.
  23. Olumide, T. A., Adeniyi, A. B., & Akintunde, O. P. (2023). Prevalence and predictors of generalized anxiety disorder among medical students in Nigeria. African Journal of Psychiatry, 19(4), 102-110.
  24. Olumide, T. A., Adeniyi, A. B., & Akintunde, O. P. (2023). Prevalence and predictors of generalized anxiety disorder among medical students in Nigeria. African Journal of Psychiatry, 19(4), 102-110.
  25. Quek, T. T., Tam, W. W., Tran, B. X., Zhang, M., Zhang, Z., Ho, C. S., & Ho, R. C. (2019). The global prevalence of anxiety among medical students: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(15), 2735.
  26. Simon, N. M., Hofmann, S. G., & Rosenfield, S. (2020). Yoga versus cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 81(3), e1-e10. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.19m13089
  27. Stefan, L., Cristea, I. A., Tatar, R., & David, D. (2019). Comparing cognitive-behavioral therapy protocols for generalized anxiety disorder: Cognitive therapy, Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Behavior Research and Therapy, 121, 103-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2019.03.009
  28. Williams, J., & Edwards, M. (2023). The influence of peer behavior on anxiety levels in medical students: Insights from Social Learning Theory. Medical Education, 57(6), 599-610.
  29. Yusuff, O., Yusuf, A., & Salawu, A. (2020). Psychological distress and associated factors among medical students in a Nigerian university. Journal of Mental Health and Clinical Psychology, 4(1), 24–32.
  30. Zare, M., & Rezaei, M. (2022). Observational learning and mental health among college students: An exploration of anxiety. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 45(3), 321-334.

Copyright @ 2026 IRJIET. All Right Reserved.

Licensed underCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.