Effectiveness of Social Skills Training In Treating Depression among University Students: A Case of Selected Public Universities in Nairobi County, Kenya.

Abstract

Depression is common among university students and despite the methods provided for its intervention, the prevalence of depression among university students remains higher than in the general population. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Social Skills Training (SST) as an intervention for depression among university students in two Kenyan public universities. The study was informed by Lewinsohn’s behavioral theory of depression (Lewinsohn, 1974) and Wendy Treynor's theory of Depression (Treynor, 2009). Quasi-experimental research design was utilized with purposive sampling technique. A sample size of 273 participants for both Social Skills Training (SST) (n=136) and control (n=137) groups. The study data was collected using a social demographic questionnaire and the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI). The reliability and validity of the instruments used were noted to be excellent. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22. Means of the data from experimental and control groups were compared at baseline, at three months and at six months after intervention. The findings showed that the students who went through the SST intervention were found to have a significant reduction of depression levels compared to those who did not go through the intervention. This indicated that the mean differences between the two groups was significant (P=0.0001). From the findings, the study concluded that SST is an effective intervention for depression among university students. This study then makes a recommendation to the universities’ management to adopt and implement a SST program among the students.