Perceived stress, anxiety, and depression among university employees in Southwestern Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Being a centre of academic pursuits and intellectual rigour, universities frequently place a high demand on the psychological and emotional well-being of their workers. This study aims to explore the relationship between perceived stress, anxiety, and depression among employees in a university in Nigeria and explore how these stress levels are associated with anxiety and depression. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a foremost private university in Southwestern Nigeria between 28th January 2024 and 11th April 2024. The participants completed a set of self-report questionnaires measuring perceived stress, anxiety and depression symptoms, and demographic information via an electronic survey platform (Google Forms). Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that both perceived stress (r = 0.517, p = 0.01) and family history of heart attack (p = 0.026) were found to be significantly associated with depression (p = 0.05). The logistic regression analysis revealed that, even after adjusting for hypertension (OR = 10.43, 95% CI = 1.761–61.799), high perceived stress remained significantly associated with both anxiety (OR, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.761–61.799; p = .010) and depression (OR, 42.91; 95%CI = 7.557–243.605) compared with those who experienced either moderate or low levels of stress. The study showed that perceived stress is associated with anxiety and depression. Findings are expected to inform policymakers and university administrators, guiding the implementation of effective mental health support systems and stress management interventions within Nigerian universities.