Psychological Distress and Architectural Studio Performance among Architecture Students in Conflict Affected Northeast Nigeria

Abstract

Architectural design studio education requires sustained concentration, iterative creative thinking, engagement with design critique, and collaborative learning. These demands may be particularly challenging in conflict affected settings where students experience psychological distress alongside the pressures of studio education. This study examined the relationship between psychological distress and architectural studio performance among architecture students in three federal universities in Northeast Nigeria. A cross-sectional correlational design was employed among 290 undergraduate architecture students at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Modibbo Adama University, Yola; and the University of Maiduguri. Psychological distress was assessed using an adapted 28 item General Health Questionnaire covering somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression, while studio performance was assessed using portfolio and jury evaluation records. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression were employed. Anxiety and insomnia recorded the highest composite mean (M = 2.77), followed by social dysfunction (M = 2.66) and somatic symptoms (M = 2.46). Severe depression showed the strongest negative association with studio performance (r = -.808, p = .008), whereas somatic symptoms (r = -.112, p = .774), anxiety and insomnia (r = -.319, p = .403), social dysfunction (r = -.456, p = .217), and the Overall General Health Index (r = -.500, p = .170) were not statistically significant. The regression model produced R² = .250, although the General Health coefficient was not significant (β = -.501, p = .169). The findings highlight the relevance of psychological wellbeing to architectural studio education in conflict affected contexts and support consideration of psychologically supportive and trauma informed learning environments alongside physical studio rehabilitation.