Mental Health Concepts and Academic Apathy Among Undergraduate Students. The Case of Upper Eastern Region in Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to examine the relationship between mental health concepts and academic apathy among undergraduate students in public universities in the Upper Eastern region of Kenya. It was informed by the need to contribute in bridging the existing gap with regard to information on relationship between mental health concepts and academic apathy among university students. The study adopted descriptive cross sectional survey and correlational research designs. Stratified sampling was used to select 380 undergraduate students while 8 student counsellors and 4 deans of students were selected purposively from study locale. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect data from sampled respondents. Data was collected from 379 undergraduate students, 8 student counsellors and 4 deans of students giving the study a return rate of 99.74%. Qualitative data obtained was analyzed thematically while quantitative data was cleaned, coded and analyzed descriptively and inferentially with the aid of the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 30.0 computer software. Frequency and percentages were used to describe the existing relationship between the variables while hypothesis was tested using regression analysis at 0.05 level of significance. Descriptive statistics established high prevalence of mental health challenges including academic stress, depression and anxiety as well as academic apathy among undergraduate student in public universities. Inferentially, the study established a a positive and significant relationship between stress and academic apathy, depression and academic apathy, anxiety and academic apathy as well as mental health challenges and academic apathy. It is therefore recommended that University management enhance provision of resources and trained as well as experienced personnel to effectively provide mental health support within the institutions. They should also consider expanding access to quality referral resources and programs for advanced psychological and psychiatric support more severe mental health cases.