Title: Perceived Stress, Sleep Disorders, Substance Use, and Sexual Orientation among Tertiary Institution Students in Ibadan, Nigeria: A Structural Equation Model
Authors: Oluwaseun Emmanuel Omopo
Volume: 9
Issue: 6
Pages: 171-179
Publication Date: 2025/06/28
Abstract:
Psychological stress and its behavioural consequences are major concerns among tertiary institution students, particularly in settings with limited psychosocial support. Guided by General Strain Theory, this study examined the structural relationships among perceived stress, sleep disorders, substance use, and sexual orientation among students in Ibadan, Nigeria. This quantitative cross-sectional study employed multistage sampling to select students from three purposively chosen institutions: the University of Ibadan, The Polytechnic Ibadan, and Lead City University. Stratified departmental sampling was followed by proportional representation across academic levels, with snowball sampling used to reach students engaged in sensitive behaviours such as substance use and minority sexual identity. A total of 487 valid responses were collected using standardised self-administered questionnaires: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and selected subscales of the WHO ASSIST. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) in AMOS 26, and five hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed that perceived stress significantly predicted sleep disorders (? = 0.53, p < .001) and substance use (? = 0.38, p < .001). Sleep disorders also predicted substance use (? = 0.29, p < .001) and significantly mediated the stress-substance use relationship (? = 0.15, 95% CI [0.09, 0.22], p < .001). Furthermore, sexual orientation moderated the stress-sleep and stress-substance paths, with stronger effects among sexual minority students, although the sleep-substance path was not moderated. Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions that address stress management, sleep hygiene, and substance misuse in tertiary institutions. Special attention should be given to the unique vulnerabilities of sexual minority students through inclusive, stigma-free mental health policies, peer support frameworks, and culturally sensitive counselling services. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs and broader institutional coverage to enhance generalisability and causal inference.