PERCEIVED IMPACT OF LOCKDOWN ON MENTAL HEALTH AND COPING STRATEGIES

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of the study was to assess the impact of lockdown on mental health and coping strategies among undergraduate students of Basic Medical Sciences in a tertiary Institution in Edo State, Nigeria. Participants included 312 students randomly selected from the departments of Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry, Nursing and Physiotherapy in a tertiary institution in Edo State. A cross sectional study was employed in this study. The Instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using simple percentage, means and regression analysis by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Results were presented in frequency tables. Findings revealed that the mean age of respondents was 21-25years 93(29.5%) and majorities were females 225(71.4%). A higher number of the participants 142(46.0%) reported mild anxiety level and mild levels of depression 166(53.7%) the most common strategies they used to combat the distress was watching television series and entertainment shows with a mean of 3.05. The lock down resulted in significant changes for undergraduates’ students of Basic Medical Sciences, 142 reported mild anxieties and about 166 reported mild depressions. Students needs psychological support to help them cope with and to effectively adapt to the changes caused by the lock down.