Page 1 of 13
European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 13, No. 02
Publication Date: April 25, 2025
DOI:10.14738/aivp.1302.18356.
Anika, A. A., Kwena, J. A., Lambert, E., Level, R. T., & Islam, M. S. (2025). Status of Mental Health Amongst Undergraduate Students
in Kenyan Universities (Qualitative Analysis of Sampled Studies). European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 13(02). 138-150.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Status of Mental Health Amongst Undergraduate Students in
Kenyan Universities (Qualitative Analysis of Sampled Studies)
Alice A. Anika
Department of Educational Psychology and Special Needs,
School of Education, Pwani University Kenya, Kenya
Jacinter A. Kwena
Department of Educational Psychology and Special Needs,
School of Education, Pwani University Kenya, Kenya
Edward Lambert
School of Social and Human Studies, Atlantic International University,
Pioneer Plaza, 900 Fort Street Mall 905, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Rene T. Level
School of Social and Human Studies, Atlantic International University,
Pioneer Plaza, 900 Fort Street Mall 905, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
School of Science and Engineering, Atlantic International University,
Pioneer Plaza, 900 Fort Street Mall 905, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
ABSTRACT
Studies investigating mental health issues amongst university students have shown
that mental distress in students is a driver of negative consequences, including
suicidal thoughts, substance use, depression, anxiety disorders, poor cognitive
functioning, and poor academic performance. The findings imply a similar mental
health index in Kenyan universities, with respect to findings that mental health
issues are more profound therein owing to associated stressors in these
environments. This paper provides an anchor point for an assessment of the
situation thereof, in the form of a meta-analysis of seven studies evaluating mental
health among university students in Kenya. It was guided by five objectives: to
determine the common mental health issues cited in the studies, to document
summarised mental health challenges faced by university students, to profile the
mental health services sited, to determine the coping mechanism used by students
to manage their mental health issues if any, and to establish research gaps
identified from the studies reviewed on mental health in the period between 2021-
2022. The review revealed that depression, anxiety, and stress are the most
prevalent mental health issues, due to diverse challenges. Further, it emerged that
student counselling is the instrument put in place to handle mental health issues
although students often resort to their own mechanisms when dealing with mental
health issues. The findings revealed various gaps for further research in mental
health management in Kenyan universities, in the form of relative unawareness or
misinformation about mental health issues among university students.
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139
Anika, A. A., Kwena, J. A., Lambert, E., Level, R. T., & Islam, M. S. (2025). Status of Mental Health Amongst Undergraduate Students in Kenyan
Universities (Qualitative Analysis of Sampled Studies). European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 13(02). 138-150.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.1302.18356.
Keywords: Mental Health Among University Students
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Mental health has over the last decade persisted as a critical issue for research, practice, and
medicine as one of the key indicators of general health. Notably, as is postulated byhuman
health exceeds the absence of illness or infirmity, to include overall wellbeing in the social, and
psychological spheres(Huber et al., 2011). Nonetheless, focus on pathological drivers of ill
health has had a toll on mental health, culminating in societies of individuals who are overly
conscious about their physical health at the expense of psychological or mental health.
The university has often been cited as one of the social institutions characterized by mental
health issues, with the average university student experiencing challenges in so far as their
mental health is concerned(Aswani, 2021). The world is changing fast with prospects for life
courses taking new trajectories by the day, causing significant uncertainty across the life of the
average person. University students have borne a significant percentage of this uncertainty,
being at a phase in life where society looks up to them, irrespective of the increasingly
challenging life in school, and uncertainties of life upon completion of studies.
University students worldwide are at a constant risk of mental health problems because of the
problems they are constantly exposed to (Aldiabat et al., 2014). On average, these students
have to grapple with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, addiction, and at times,
use psychiatric medications. Despite these findings, the missing link between mental health
issues amidst the milestone of youth growth and developmental facets and the realities of life
challenges, limited awareness about mental health issues among university students (Aldiabat
et al., 2014) to wrongful perceptions of mental health, stigmatization and limiting capacity of
students to seek help presents gaps for further research undertakings. In reiteration of the
stigmatization of mental health in institutions of higher learning, Kamarunzaman et al (2020)
noted that students with mental issues often prefer to stay silent because of stigmatization, and,
often, it takes third parties to identify and intervene into suspected cases of mental problems.
Studies investigating mental health issues amongst university students have also shown that
mental distress in students is a driver of negative consequences, including suicidal thoughts,
substance use, depression, anxiety disorders, poor cognitive functioning, and poor academic
performance (Mutinta, 2022). The mental health challenge is global and cross-cutting, and
students from African universities are no exception. In a study by Aswani (2021), it emerged
that about one third of students in African universities have mental health problems, with only
two thirds of this faction seeking help. The most notable stressors that have been associated
with mental health problems amongst students in African universities include separation from
family and friends, financial pressure, academic challenges, and relationship problems.
Interestingly, higher prevalence of mental health problems is noted in female students than in
their male counterparts (Kamarunzaman et al., 2020), with female students showing
susceptibility to more stressors.
Kenya holds a worrying ranking for mental issues at the regional and global level, with
depression being the most common form of mental health amongst her population. The number
of people showing mental health problems increases daily thereby compounding an already
concerning situation. To put this into perspective, a study by Wambui, (2019) had ranked East
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European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 13, Issue 02, April-2025
Africanas coming to fourth position in the African continent on issues of mental health. The
numbers imply a similar mental health index in Kenyan universities, in respect to findings that
mental health issues are more profound therein owing to associated stressors. Indeed, Wambui
(2019) points out that the socio-economic organization of Kenyan universities provides a
suitable environment for mental health problems, with an array of factors converging to
increase the risk of problems such as depression, anxiety and drug abuse for students (Wambui,
2019). This background therefore suites the need to undertake a qualitative analysis review of
seven recent studies on mental health among university students in Kenya to investigate the
status of mental health amongst undergraduate students in Kenyan Universities
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Despite manageable mental health intervention in various universities institutions, the
students are often faced with multifaceted mental health challenges due to their age factor
which propels them to peer pressure and general misinformation about the same, hence the
need for further mental health studies analysis among university students.
Problems with mental health have often been associated with poor performance in social,
economic, and intellectual life. For University students, susceptibility to mental health
problems is heightened by the nature of university life and the circumstances surrounding
entry into and exit out of university (Aswani, 2021). Research has shown that on a global scale,
one out of 10 students joining university is likely to encounter at least one psychological
challenge, which often poses threats to academic performance (Gakii, 2021). The problem is
more pronounced amongst first year students as they adjust to university life, and as the
stressors increase, their mental health outcomes deteriorate further. However, due to little
knowledge of mental health, related stigmatization when instances are suspected, and the
associated fear of seclusion for victims occurs, it become increasingly difficult to identify cases
of mental health among the University students. While it has been noted that the Mental Health
issues among the youth warrants resilience by the African gate keepers of mental health, in the
African cultural set up especially among the boys, the modern platform today, especially the
21stC youth is riddled with a lot of challenges in their upbringing that life at the University
overwhelms them and many silently slip away into mental health issues unnoticed.
For this reason, mental health problems have prevailed amongst university students in the
country and slowly eating into the student population with critical consequences. It is therefore
fundamental that the mental health situation amongst university students in Kenya be
evaluated, as a starting point for intervention with positive mental health outcomes in mind
(Mutinta, 2022). This paper provides an anchor point for an assessment of the situation thereof,
in the form of a meta-analysis of studies evaluating mental health among university students in
Kenya.
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
To establish Mental Health status among university students in Kenya using meta-analysis
approach from seven mental health studies already undertaken in the universities in Kenya.
Specific Objectives
1. To determine the common mental health issues sited in the studies
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Anika, A. A., Kwena, J. A., Lambert, E., Level, R. T., & Islam, M. S. (2025). Status of Mental Health Amongst Undergraduate Students in Kenyan
Universities (Qualitative Analysis of Sampled Studies). European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 13(02). 138-150.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.1302.18356.
2. To document summarised mental health challenges faced by university students
3. To profile the mental health services offered to university students as sited in the studies
4. To determine the coping mechanism used by students to manage their mental health
issues if any
5. To establish research gaps identified from the studies reviewed on mental health in the
period between 2021-2022
METHODOLOGY
The methodology provides an overview of the methods selected and used at every stage during
the actual study. It triangulates the study’s empirical approach, the data collection methods,
and analysis techniques.
Target Population
The target population in this me-analysis review study are University students. This is because
it has been discovered through a study findings that Kenya universities students goes through
a lot as far as mental issues are concerned, with some of factors converging to increase the risk
of problems such as depression, anxiety and drug abuse for students (Wambui, 2019).
Study Location
The study focused on studies which have been done in Kenya. This is because Kenya has a high
incidence of mental health issues, and by 2018, close to 2 million people in the country showed
depressive symptoms (Wambui, 2019). The numbers imply a similar mental health index in
Kenyan universities, in respect to findings that mental health issues are more profound therein
owing to associated stressors in these environments.
Study Design
The study adopted a retrospective survey design in triangulating existing research for an in- depth view of the status of mental health and mental health research in Kenyan universities.
The study included studies that focused on the mental health situation between 2021 and 2022,
limiting its scope to studies that targeted undergraduate students and conducted in the Kenya
Universities.
Data Collection Procedure
Was carried out to identify all studies on mental health among university students undertaken
in Kenya. From these studies, a sample size accounting for 10% of all the identified studies was
targeted as recommended byKrejcie and Morgan in Bukhari (2021). These studies used as a
representative of all studies investigating mental health issues in Kenyan universities in the
specified period. However, in the initial evaluation, only 7 studies matched the selection
criteria; a) studies targeting Kenyan university students, and b) studies carried out between
2021 and 2022. For this reason, the seven studies were all considered using qualitative analysis
of mental health issues amongst university students in Kenya.
Data Analysis Technique
Qualitative data analysis techniques were applied to analyse the reviewed studies. These
included tables, pie charts, graphs and thematic analysis where appropriate.
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STUDY FINDINGS
This section presents the study-related findings from the seven research studies that was
sampled for analysis. It presents findings on mental health issues and challenges that emerged
among individual student populations, coping mechanisms students attested to using and
measures put in place by university administrations to combat the mental health issues.
Common Mental Health Issues Cited in the Reviewed Studies
A triangulation of the selected studies led to an identification of the mental health issues
underscored during inquiry and the results of the studies in so far as mental health issues are
concerned. Table presents a summary of the findings
Table 3.1: Common mental Health Issue among university students in Kenya
Study Topic University Mental Health
Issues Identified
Results of the study’s findings
Mental health a growing
challenge in Kenyan
Universities: The case of
Kabarak University
Kabarak
University
depression,
anxiety
different kinds of
disorders
Just cited the areas of mental issues
identified
Influence of Selected
psychosocial challenges on
Academic performance
among first year students
in Kenyatta university,
Nairobi county
Kenya
Methodist
University
Anxiety
Panic
Adjustment
Depression
Emotional factors that affect the
academic performance of first year
students are a result of the lack of a
sense of peace, acceptability, sense
of security freedom to choose their
course of interest, level of anxiety
which may be caused by exams as
well as fears emanating from
various factors such as new
environment, lecturers, loneliness
and feelings of helplessness.
Effects of Contextual
Concerns on University
Students’ Mental Health in
the Wake of COVID-19
Pandemic: A Review of
Kenyan Cases
Bomet
University
College,
Depression
Anxiety
Stress
Sleep and eating
disorder
loneliness
Covid-19 contributed to general
poor health and vulnerable
university students may have been
worse hit. This culminated into
mental health issues as depression,
anxiety, stress, sleep and eating
disorder and loneliness
Problematic Internet Use,
Depression, Anxiety, and
Stress Among University of
Nairobi Students
University
of Nairobi
Depressive
Disorders
Anxiety disorder
Generalized
disorders
There is a significant relationship
between problematic internet use,
depression, anxiety and stress
among the university students.
Correlation Between Self- esteem and Depression
Among Poorly Performing
Students of Africa
Nazarene University,
Kenya
Africa
Nazarene
University
Depression The study established that there
was a significant
positive relationship (r = .420**; p
= .000, at 0.01 level of
significance) between self-esteem
and depression among poorly
Performing students of Africa
Nazarene University, Kenya
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Anika, A. A., Kwena, J. A., Lambert, E., Level, R. T., & Islam, M. S. (2025). Status of Mental Health Amongst Undergraduate Students in Kenyan
Universities (Qualitative Analysis of Sampled Studies). European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 13(02). 138-150.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.1302.18356.
Influence of Selected
Psychosocial Challenges
On Academic Performance
Among First Year Students
In Kenyatta University,
Nairobi County
Kenya
Methodist
University
Anxiety
Panic adjustment
Depression
First-year students face multiple
difficulties concerning relational
and emotional issues. Some of the
most common problems are time,
workload and expectations for the
two cohorts, balancing
relationships with peers, meeting
academic performance
expectations, freedom of choice in
course selection and personal
inhibitions such as feelings of
loneliness and depression among
others
Exploring College
Students’ Biopsychosocial
Spiritual Wellbeing and
Problems during COVID‐19
through a Contextual and
Comprehensive
Framework
University
of Nairobi
Sadness
anxiety
frustration
stress
loneliness
withdrawal
Change in sleeping patterns,
sadness, anxiety, and frustration
were reported with one in three
reporting “poor” or “fair” mental
health.
From the Common Mental Health Issues Cited in the StudiesTable 3.1 shows that the reviewed
studies underlined an array of mental issues amongst students in the six universities
represented on the basis of the dependent-independent variable relationships they evaluated.
Nonetheless, the recurrent mental issues across the board included depression, anxiety and
stress; these mental issues not only informed the investigative pathways of these studies, but
also constituted a significant part of their findings. In a triangulation of depression, anxiety, and
stress indices across the seven studies, incidences and extent of manifestation of the mental
health issues was extracted for analysis on the basis of Normal, Mild, Moderate, Severe and N/A.
Qualitative analysis was used to analyse the data further as shown on Table 3.2 as presented
below.
Table 3.2: The corroborative findings are as elaborated in table below.
Mental Health Issue Normal Mild Moderate Severe NA
Depression 43.25% 12.1% 24.65% 10.13% 9.87%
Anxiety 22.35% 37.45% 22.15% 12.03% 6.02%
Stress 62.2% 13% 17% 8% 4%
As table 3.2 illustrates, most of the students who formed the sample population for the seven
selected studies demonstrated relatively high rates of stress at 62.2%, depression 43.25% and,
anxiety at 22.35% respectively. However severe mental health conditions seem to have shown
anxiety at 12.03% and at the same time with mild occurrence on the same at 37.45%.
Moderated outcomes reveal depression at 24.65% as the highest levels. The numbers reiterate
findings by Gakii (2021) and Wambui (2019), that the average university student in Kenya is
likely to experience at least one mental issue in their study duration, and that at any one time,
one out of 10 students is likely to have one of the three mental health issues. As shown on Table
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European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 13, Issue 02, April-2025
3.1 and Table 3.2 on the common mental Health issues cited in the studies qualitatively
analysed,
Mental Health Challenges Faced by University Students
The review also sought the mental health challenges faced by the students for insights into the
drivers of mental issues as identified in the selected studies. Table 3. 3 presents a summary of
the findings
Table 3.3: Mental Health challenges faced by university students
Title Author Mental Health Challenges
faced by University Students
Mental health a growing challenge in
Kenyan Universities: The case of Kabarak
University
Dr. Eunice Njenga depression, anxiety
different kinds of disorders
Influence of Selected psychosocial
challenges on Academic performance
among first year students in Kenyatta
university, Nairobi county
Julia Gakii Muthuri Anxiety
Panic
Adjustment
Depression
Effects of Contextual Concerns on
University Students’ Mental Health in the
Wake of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of
Kenyan Cases
Dr. Hellen Jepchirchir
Mettoh
Depression Anxiety
Stress
Sleep and eating disorder
Loneliness
Problematic Internet Use, Depression,
Anxiety, and Stress Among University of
Nairobi Students
Sylvia Adoyo Mita Depressive Disorders
Anxiety disorder
Generalized disorders
Correlation Between Self-esteem and
Depression Among Poorly Performing
Students of Africa Nazarene University,
Kenya
Innocent Elum Afen
Pinto Hubert
Aloys Otieno Ojore
Depression
Influence of Selected Psychosocial
Challenges on Academic Performance
Among First Year Students in Kenyatta
University, Nairobi County
Julia Gakii Muthuuri
Dr. Zipporah Kaaria
Dr. Leunita Makutsa
Makila
Anxiety,
Panic adjustment
Depression
Exploring College Students’
Biopsychosocial Spiritual Wellbeing and
Problems during COVID‐19 through a
Contextual and Comprehensive
Framework
Habil Otanga
Ahmet Tanhan
Phelista Marura Musili
Gokmen Aslan
Metin Bulus
Sadness,
anxiety frustration, stress,
Loneliness, withdrawal
Table 3.3 shows the mental health challenges that university students goes through according
to the cited qualitatively analysed. The challenges were further analysed as shown in Table
Mental Health Challenges Faced by University Students
The mental challenges faced by students as explored in the selected studies were also sought
to identify the underlying circumstances behind the mental health issues identified among the
students from the six universities. These had been examined and analysed on the basis of a five- point Likert scale; the final figures were extracted from the six studies and the means and
standard deviations computed and presented as in table. 3.4
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Anika, A. A., Kwena, J. A., Lambert, E., Level, R. T., & Islam, M. S. (2025). Status of Mental Health Amongst Undergraduate Students in Kenyan
Universities (Qualitative Analysis of Sampled Studies). European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 13(02). 138-150.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.1302.18356.
Table 3.4: Mental Health Challenges Faced by University Students
Mental Health Challenge Mean Standard deviation
Undesired Course 3.904 0.705
Exam anxiety 3.826 0.653
New environment 3.711 0.769
Helplessness 3.579 0.707
Meeting new people 3.371 0.751
Virtual learning 3.840 1.350
As table 3.4 elaborates, the overall mental health challenge was students undertaking
undesired course at with a standard deviation of 0.705. the was followed by exams anxiety with
a mean of 3.826 and sd of 0.653, Virtual learning was majorly cited in the studies reviewed as
posing a challenge bordering mental health with a mean at 3.840 with sd of 1.350 respectively.
Other mental health issues which posed challenges to students included new environment,
helplessness and meeting new people. The figures, on average, demonstrated that most of the
students were either neutral, or in agreement that the mentioned challenges had high
consequence to their mental health outcomes. Across the board, the standard deviation for the
challenges cited had a lower limit of 0.653 and an upper limit of 1.350, implying that the degree
of deviation of the responses from the mean was minimal and outliers would be unlikely. These
findings agree with the assertion by Kamarunzaman et al (2020), that the university
environment’s design pre-disposes students to mental health issues owing to its novelty,
volatility, affiliation for variety, freedom, and demanding nature at the academic, social, and
economic levels.
Mental Health Services Offered to University Students
Consequently, the review inquired into the mental health services offered to students as
identified in the selected studies. These were considered instrumental for an overview of the
role played by Kenyan universities in addressing mental health issues amongststudents. The
findings are summarized in table
Table 3.5: Mental Health Services offered to university students
Study Topic University Mental Health Services Said to be
Offered to Students
Mental health a growing challenge in Kenyan
Universities: The case of Kabarak University
Kabarak
University
Student Counselling
Influence of Selected psychosocial challenges
on Academic performance among first year
students in Kenyatta university, Nairobi
county
Kenya
Methodist
University
Psychological evaluations,
Time bound treatment,
Emotional support,
Personal development groups
External psychological services
Social integration for addressing
relationship difficulties
Orientation programs for first time
students
Effects of Contextual Concerns on University
Students’ Mental Health in the Wake of COVID- 19 Pandemic: A Review of Kenyan Cases
Bomet
University
College,
None
Page 9 of 13
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European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 13, Issue 02, April-2025
Problematic Internet Use, Depression, Anxiety,
and Stress Among University of Nairobi
Students
University
of Nairobi
None
Correlation Between Self-esteem and
Depression Among Poorly Performing
Students of Africa Nazarene University, Kenya
Africa
Nazarene
University
Student Counselling
Exploring College Students’ Biopsychosocial
Spiritual Wellbeing and Problems during
COVID‐19 through a Contextual and
Comprehensive Framework
University
of Nairobi
None
From Table 3.5, the findings shows that Mental health services as the reviewed in the studies
in the Kenyan context, are not only essential, but could also be determinant of the overall
mental health profile of the average university students. As Kamarunzaman et al (2020) puts
it, the general unawareness of mental health issues amongst university students is the leading
cause of stigmatization against mental health, and the reason behind preference for silence
instead of consultation, diagnosis and treatment. For this reason, it has been the role of key
stakeholders within the university environment to identify cases that require diagnosis and
intervention. An approach that has proved mostly ineffective. Nonetheless, it was mentioned
in the selected studies that the most common form of mental health service for students was
counselling from respective counselling departments. For example, a respondent in the study
by Gakii (2021) mentioned the following about Kenyatta University;
“implemented some programs to help students cope with the challenges they face
in their first year. They said thatprograms include: Psychological assessment and
evaluations, time limitation treatments, emotional support, personal development
groups or referrals to external psychological services which typically include
student counseling services that are given. It is of utmost significance that any
information provided by the student is secret and ethical. It is important to share
the information with trusted third parties only in exceptional instances (i.e. if there
is a serious threat of a student damaging himself or others). This is explained at the
initial counseling session to the student. Counselling offers a chance to look at broad
developments such as job choices, study behaviors, routine changes, connections,
identity, and self-conception.”
Ideally, such programs could provide an alternative to handling the mental health issues in
Kenyan universities, countering the largely ineffective passive approach that depends on
students reporting to designated counsellors for assistance.
Coping Mechanisms Used by University Students to Manage their Mental Health Issues
Further, the reviewed studies sought the action taken by students to cope with mental health
issues whenever they encountered them at the university. These are elaborated in table 3.6.
Table 3.6: Coping mechanism used by university students
Study Topic University Coping Mechanisms
Mental health a growing challenge in Kenyan
Universities: The case of Kabarak University
Kabarak
University
Was stated to be drugs and
substance abuse
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Anika, A. A., Kwena, J. A., Lambert, E., Level, R. T., & Islam, M. S. (2025). Status of Mental Health Amongst Undergraduate Students in Kenyan
Universities (Qualitative Analysis of Sampled Studies). European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 13(02). 138-150.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.1302.18356.
Table 3.6 shows the approaches that students take to cope when faced with mental issues in
the Kenyan university setting. Often, it has been established that students have unique ways of
dealing with mental issues, ranging from social systems to destructive behaviour that often
alleviates the issues. Further analysis on 3.7 from what was drawn from Table 3.6 qualitatively
was further qualitatively analysed. This was achieved by an in-depth evaluation of the findings
from the seven selected studies for prevalence of such action and it’s examination. The presence
of these characteristics qualified the selected studies for data extraction, and the data was
presented in table 3.7.
Table 3.7: Coping Mechanism Used by students to handle their mental health issues
Coping mechanisms used Mean Standard deviation
Talking to family and friends 4.18 0.88
Exercise 2.77 1.42
Social media 4.17 0.96
Reading books 3.04 1.31
Hobbies 3.85 1.08
Spiritual activities 3.54 1.39
Alcohol/drugs 1.39 0.95
As table elaborates, the corroborated findings revealed variability in the coping mechanisms
students in Kenyan universities utilize to cope with mental health issues. On the one hand, most
of the students were found to prefer talking to family members and their friends, followed by
the use of social media to divert their attentions from stressors and switching to their hobbies
such as sports, dances relaxing and so on. These are the situations which were found to invite
alcohol and drug abuse consumptions as a coping mechanism, with a standard deviation of 0.95.
Most students were neutral or in agreement that exercise, reading books, hobbies and spiritual
mechanisms could be used to cope with mental issues while they are at the university as coping
mechanisms. Notably, the high affiliation for social media as a coping mechanism has raised
concern in some studies due to it’s tendency to distance users from social life, enhancing
loneliness and enhancing mental health issues (Otanga et al., 2022). In the same vein, Mita
Influence of Selected psychosocial challenges on
Academic performance among first year students
in Kenyatta university, Nairobi county
Kenya
Methodist
University
Was stated as Being part of
support groups
Effects of Contextual Concerns on University
Students’ Mental Health in the Wake of COVID-19
Pandemic: A Review of Kenyan Cases
Bomet
University
College,
Was not stated in the paper
Problematic Internet Use, Depression, Anxiety,
and Stress Among University of Nairobi Students
University
of Nairobi
Internet use for mood elevation
predominated
Correlation Between Self-esteem and Depression
Among Poorly Performing Students of Africa
Nazarene University, Kenya
Africa
Nazarene
University
Was not stated in the papers
Exploring College Students’ Biopsychosocial
Spiritual Wellbeing and Problems during
COVID‐19 through a Contextual and
Comprehensive Framework
University
of Nairobi
talking to family/friends physical
exercise, social media, reading
books, hobbies, spiritual activities,
alcohol/drugs
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European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 13, Issue 02, April-2025
(2021), associates problematic internet use with higher risks of depression, anxiety and stress
amongst students.
Research Gaps Identified from the Studies Reviewed on Mental Health
Table 3.8: Research Gaps identified from the studies reviewed
Study Topic Research Gap
Mental health a growing challenge in Kenyan
Universities: The case of Kabarak University
No gap on further research was identified
Influence of Selected psychosocial challenges
on Academic performance among first year
students in Kenyatta university, Nairobi
county
There is need to focus on other universities both
locally and abroad and see whether the results will
be replicated on mental health issues.
There is a need for a study focusing on other factors
not captured in the current study.
Effects of Contextual Concerns on University
Students’ Mental Health in the Wake of COVID- 19 Pandemic: A Review of Kenyan Cases
Universities have not invested on psychological first
aid and still there is lack of systematic collection of
data on the mental health impact of COVID-19
Problematic Internet Use, Depression, Anxiety,
and Stress Among University of Nairobi
Students
There’s need for a study on the effect of problematic
internet use on other psychiatric problems not
covered in the study
Correlation Between Self-esteem and
Depression Among Poorly Performing
Students of Africa Nazarene University, Kenya
A comparative study may be carried out in other
private and public universities on the components
of depression among the students
Exploring College Students’ Biopsychosocial
Spiritual Wellbeing and Problems during
COVID‐19 through a Contextual and
Comprehensive Framework
long-term consequences of the pandemic are not
fully known, and should be adequately addressed
using a bio psychological–spiritual approach, which
is multidimensional
CONCLUSION
The mental health situation amongst students in Kenyan universities is relatively understudied
in the past two years, with the implication of limited knowledge of the same and its implications
amidst recent changes. Nonetheless, the studies carried out between 2021 and 2022 (Adoyo
Mita, 2021; Gakii, 2021; Mettoh, 2022; Njenga, 2021; Otanga et al., 2022; Wambui, 2019)
provide some insights about the prevalence of mental health issues in the universities, the
measures put in place to address the issues, and the coping mechanisms used by students when
they fall victim to mental issues notably are important. In sum, it emerged that depression,
anxiety, and stress are the most prevalent mental health issues, and, on the basis of the studies
included, the challenges that could be associated with these mental health issues include
undesired course, exam anxiety, new environment, helplessness, meeting new people, and
virtual learning. Further, the review revealed, albeit shallowly, that student counselling is the
instrument put in place to handle mental health issues amongst students in Kenyan
universities, and that students often resort to their own mechanisms when dealing with mental
health issues. The cited coping mechanisms included talking to family and friends, exercise
social media, reading books, hobbies, spiritual activities, and alcohol/drugs. Nonetheless, these
were prevalent amongst the minority that acknowledged mental health issues, unlike the
majority, who stigmatize individuals with symptoms due to limited knowledge on mental
health issues. The findings reveal gaps in mental health management in Kenyan universities, in
the form of relative unawareness or misinformation about mental health issues, focus on
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Anika, A. A., Kwena, J. A., Lambert, E., Level, R. T., & Islam, M. S. (2025). Status of Mental Health Amongst Undergraduate Students in Kenyan
Universities (Qualitative Analysis of Sampled Studies). European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 13(02). 138-150.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.1302.18356.
mental health management by student centred approaches, and inquiry into changes in the
mental health situation amidst a highly volatile society.
RECOMMENDATIONS
On the basis of the empirical review, the following recommendations follow for mental health
policy, general mental health practice, and further studies in the context of Kenyan universities;
1. There is a need to mainstream mental health policy at national and university level to
account for, and alleviate mental health outcomes for university students owing to the
unique context, and challenges students experience therein
2. There is need for accelerated and diversified mental health service delivery in Kenyan
universities to enhance early identification of, and intervention into mental health
issues, and sensitize students against stigmatization against victims of mental health
issues.
3. There is need for further research into mental health matters amidst recent changes in
the globe, and the coping mechanisms used by Kenyan universities in addressing mental
health issues.
References
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