SUBSTANCE USES, DEPRESSION, SOCIAL ANXIETY AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The current study aims to examine the relationships between substance use, depression, social anxiety, and academic achievement among university students. Given the rapid pace of modern life, understanding the interplay between these factors is increasingly important. The study sample consisted of 225 participants (95 male, 130 female) selected from various universities using a purposive sampling method. A correlational research design was employed, alongside convenient sampling, to explore the study's variables.

To assess substance use, depression, social anxiety, and academic performance, several standardized instruments were used, including the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-28), the Adult Academic Performance Rating Scale, and scales for measuring depression and social anxiety. The analysis of the data revealed significant correlations between substance use, depression, and social anxiety among university students.

Multiple linear regression and t-tests were conducted to test the study's hypotheses. The results showed a notable prevalence of substance use and mental health challenges among the sample. However, the statistical analysis revealed small differences between male and female students. Specifically, the t-test for substance use indicated a minimal difference between genders (-1.01), while the t-value for depression levels (-1.04) also suggested a small gender-based discrepancy, with a p-value of 0.298 indicating that this difference was not statistically significant. Additionally, a t-value of -1.43 pointed to a modest difference in social anxiety scores between male and female students.

The study further highlighted a negative relationship between substance use and academic achievement, as well as a strong correlation between both depression and social anxiety with academic performance. Importantly, no significant gender differences were found in substance use, depression, social anxiety, or academic achievement levels among university students.

In conclusion, this study underscores the complex interconnections between mental health issues, substance use, and academic success, while revealing that these factors are similarly distributed across male and female university students.