Date of Award

12-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Advanced Practice Nurs​ing (MSc-APN)​

First Advisor

Dr. Diana Kassaman

Second Advisor

Dr. Irene G. Mageto

Department

School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa

Abstract

Background: Mental health challenges are increasingly recognised, and nursing students often report higher stress and anxiety than other peers.Working nurses in upgrading programmes face additional pressure from balancing work, study and family,yet remain under-studied. At Aga Khan University in Kenya, the determinants influencing mental health-seeking behaviour among upgrading nursing students have not been documented, which is critical for addressing mental health needs. This study aimed to investigate the biological, psychological, and sociological factors influencing mental health-seeking behavior in this cohort.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 106 upgrading nursing students at AKU, utilizing structured questionnaires to assess biological, psychological, and sociological variables. Stratified random sampling was used to select participants. Ethical and administrative approval was sought before the study commenced. Pearson’s correlation and binary logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify relationships between continuous variables, the associations, and predictors of mental health-seeking behaviours, respectively.

Results: Among the variables examined, only the perceived accessibility of mental health services showed a statistically significant positive correlation with help-seeking behaviour (p < 0.05), indicating that students who perceived services as accessible were more likely to seek support. Other factors, including biological, psychological, and sociological variables such as family history, stress levels, stigma, and social support, did not show statistically significant associations with help-seeking behaviour.

Conclusion: This study concluded that while biological determinants such as family history, physical health, and sleep patterns were present among upgrading nursing students, they did not significantly influence mental health-seeking behaviour. Sociological factors, particularly social support, emerged as a significant positive predictor, whereas stigma and perceived service accessibility were not statistically associated with help-seeking. Psychological distress, including high levels of stress, burnout, and anxiety, was widely reported but did not translate into increased professional service utilization.

Recommendations: The study recommends integrating targeted mental health education into the nursing curriculum, enhancing the visibility of counselling services, and implementing peer and faculty-led initiatives to reduce stigma and support timely help-seeking.

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1

Last Page

137

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