Social Support and Religiosity as Predictors of Depression Among Students in Delta State University, Abraka

This study examines the influence of social support and religiosity in predicting depression among students in Delta State University, Abraka. Three hypotheses derived from the specific objectives of the study were tested. This study is cross sectional in nature and adopts the survey design. The study used quantitative data and this was gathered with questionnaire. The questionnaire was used to elicit response from 300 respondents that constitute the sample size. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Simple Regression Analysis was used to test the hypotheses. After careful analysis of data, it was discovered that social support is a significant predictor of depression (r = -0.35, β = -0.15, p < 0.05), with increased social support associated with decreased depression while religiosity does not have a significant influence on depression (r = -0.01, β = -0.00). The model explained approximately 12% of the variance in depression scores (adjusted r2 = 0.12). As regards the research findings, the following were recommended; interventions aimed at reducing depression should focus on developing and strengthening social connections, a multifaceted approach is recommended for the enhancement of social support networks for individuals struggling with depression, policymakers should prioritize funding for programs that enhance social support networks for individuals struggling with depression, mental health professionals should assess social support networks as part of depression diagnosis and consider religiosity as a secondary factor in addressing depression, adopting a comprehensive approach that addresses the complex relationships between religiosity, social support, and depression.