Author: Karen Afandi Chagwaya
Kenya Projects Organization, Lino House,
P.O Box 15509-00503, Mbagathi – Nairobi, Kenya
Email: karenchagwaya@gmail.com
Abstract: Tobacco use among university students continues to pose a major public health and behavioral challenge globally, with growing concern in Kenya’s higher education institutions. University students face unique pressures related to autonomy, academic stress, and social influence, making them highly susceptible to tobacco initiation and dependence. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between tobacco use, anxiety, and academic performance among university students, highlighting how psychological distress contributes to both substance use and diminished academic outcomes. The paper first presents an overview of tobacco use patterns among young adults, followed by an examination of the psychological links between anxiety and tobacco consumption, and finally discusses how these factors affect learning and academic success. The paper further looks into strategies aimed at managing tobacco use within university settings, emphasizing the importance of integrating mental health support and awareness programs into campus life. It concludes that understanding and addressing the psychological roots of tobacco use are essential to enhancing students’ well-being and fostering a tobacco-free academic culture in Kenya and beyond.
Keywords: Tobacco use, Campus Anxiety, Academic performance, University students, Hidden High, Tobacco Use, University students’ tobacco consumption
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Suggested Citation
Chagwaya, K.A. (2025). The Hidden High: Exploring the Relationship between Tobacco Use, Anxiety, and Academic Performance among University Students in Kenya. African Research Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 12(3), 1-8.