Psychological stress of Covid-19 pandemic on radiography students in Nigeria: a single centre study

Abstract

Background: Psychological stress triggers physical and emotional responses that can impact various bodily functions. This study aimed to assess the psychological stress experienced by radiography students at Nnamdi Azikiwe University during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify their coping strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a questionnaire among 186 radiography students. The survey collected socio-demographic data, such as gender, age, and academic year, along with responses related to psychological distress. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed. Results: Among the 186 respondents, 96 (51.6%) were female, and 90 (48.4%) were male. The majority (62.4%) was aged 20-24 years, and the largest group (38.7%) was in their third year of study (300 Level). Over half (58.1%) of the students lived on campus, and most (87.6%) attended physical classes. A significant proportion (75.3%) reported somatic stress, with common symptoms including headaches (25.3%), physical fatigue (23.5%), and back pain (12.4%). Anxiety-related symptoms included sleep disturbances (36.6%), anger (31.2%), and anxiety (29.2%). Depression affected 87.6% of the respondents, with symptoms such as lack of motivation to study (34.9%), difficulty concentrating (25.3%), hopelessness (17.2%), and suicidal thoughts (10.2%). The main social factors contributing to psychological distress were difficulty in studying (36%), financial problems (22%), and challenges with learning modalities (18.8%). Excessive worrying (52.7%) was the most common psychological factor. The most prevalent impact of psychological distress was low motivation to work (29.6%). Social media was the most frequently used coping strategy (18.3%). There was no significant association between somatic stress and academic year/level (p = 0.319). However, a significant association was found between anxiety and academic level/year (p = 0.050) and between academic level/year and depression (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Radiography students experienced significant psychological stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily manifested as somatic stress, anxiety, and depression