Available online Aug 4, 2025.

[ Original ] Volume 24, Issue 2, 2025, Pages 217-228

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Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between mental health challenges—specifically anxiety disorders, depression, and stress—and career development among women in the Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Utilizing a correlational survey research design, data was collected from a sample of 117 female teachers through a researcher-developed questionnaire, the Mental Health Challenges and Career Development Questionnaire (MHCCDQ). The first section gathered personal information from respondents, while the second section comprised 20 items designed to elicit data on the studied variables, employing a four-point Likert scale for responses. The instrument was validated for both face and content by experts in the Department of Guidance and Counselling at the University of Calabar, achieving a reliability coefficient of .85 using Cronbach Alpha statistics. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Analysis was employed to analyze the data. The findings reveal a significant relationship between the identified mental health issues and the career development of women in the region, indicating that higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress adversely affect career progression. The study concludes that addressing mental health challenges is crucial for fostering a conducive environment for women's professional growth. Major recommendations include the implementation of targeted interventions to support mental well-being and enhance career advancement opportunities for women.

 

 

Keywords

Mental Health, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Stress, Career Development,

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