RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANXIETY AND SUBSTANCEUSEDISORDER AMONG EMERGING ADULTHOOD OF SELECTEDUNIVERSITIES IN FCT ABUJA

This study investigated the relationship between anxiety and substance use disorder (SUD) among emerging adults in selected universities in Abuja, Nigeria. Emerging adulthood (ages 18–25) is a developmental stage marked by identity exploration, instability, and heightened vulnerability to mental health problems. The study aimed to examine whether anxiety significantly correlates with substance use and whether anxiety, age, and gender predict SUD. A cross-sectional survey design was employed with N = 165 undergraduate students (aged 18–25). Participants completed standardized questionnaires: the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression. The findings suggest that higher anxiety levels are modestly associated with higher substance use, but age and gender do not significantly moderate this relationship. The study highlights the importance of integrated mental health interventions for Nigerian university students, focusing on both anxiety and substance use prevention. University counseling centers should incorporate screening for co-occurring problems, and future research should adopt longitudinal approaches to clarify causal relationships.