CORE SELF-EVALUATION AND NEGATIVE AFFECT AS ANTECEDENTS OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS: A QUANTITATIVE INVESTIGATION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE POPULATIONAT NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated Core Self-evaluation and Negative Affect as Antecedents of Depressive Symptoms: A Quantitative Investigation among Undergraduate Population. A sample of 305 individuals participated in this study, which included 110 males (36.1%) and 195 females (63.9%), with a mean of 23.98 and standard deviation of 3.06. The study adopted a predictive design and multiple linear regression analysis, and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Instruments used for data collection include the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) developed by Robert et al. (1999); Core Self-evaluation Scale (CSES) developed by Judge et al. (2003), and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) developed by Watson et al. (1988). Core self-evaluation and negative affect both significantly predicted depressive symptoms, negatively and positively, respectively; age was also found to be a negative and significant predictor of the outcome. From the findings, it is recommended that universities adopt and maintain programs aimed towards mental health education and skill building for selfefficacy among undergraduates.