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The Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Stress and Their Associated Factors in College Students

Author

Listed:
  • Enrique Ramón-Arbués

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus Universitario Villanueva de Gállego, Universidad San Jorge, 50830 Villanueva de Gállego, Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Vicente Gea-Caballero

    (Nursing School La Fe, Adscript Center of University of Valencia, 46026 Valencia, Spain
    Research Group GREIACC, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain)

  • José Manuel Granada-López

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, Zaragoza University, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Raúl Juárez-Vela

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, La Rioja University, 26006 Logroño, Spain)

  • Begoña Pellicer-García

    (Servicio Aragonés de Salud, Sector Alcañiz Atención Primaria, Centro de Salud Andorra Calle Huesca, 44500 Andorra, Spain)

  • Isabel Antón-Solanas

    (Department of Physiatry and Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain)

Abstract

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress and associated factors in a population of college students. Method: Cross-sectional study of psychological distress measured through the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) in a sample of 1074 college students. Results: We found a moderate prevalence of depression (18.4%), anxiety (23.6%) and stress (34.5%) symptoms in our study population. Being <21, having problematic Internet use behavior, smoking, presenting insomnia and having a low self-esteem were independently associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Being a woman, living with their family, having a stable partner, consuming alcohol frequently and having poor nutritional habits were significantly associated with symptoms of stress; lacking a stable partner was significantly associated with depressive symptoms; and frequent consumption of alcohol was significantly associated with symptoms of anxiety. Conclusion: We found a moderate prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in our population. Interventions aimed at promoting mental health among college students should be implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Enrique Ramón-Arbués & Vicente Gea-Caballero & José Manuel Granada-López & Raúl Juárez-Vela & Begoña Pellicer-García & Isabel Antón-Solanas, 2020. "The Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Stress and Their Associated Factors in College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:7001-:d:418972
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Manuel Herrero-Montes & Cristina Alonso-Blanco & María Paz-Zulueta & Carmen Sarabia-Cobo & Laura Ruiz-Azcona & Paula Parás-Bravo, 2019. "Binge Drinking in Spanish University Students: Associated Factors and Repercussions: A Preliminary Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-13, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Emma Motrico & Jose A. Salinas-Perez & Maria Luisa Rodero-Cosano & Sonia Conejo-Cerón, 2021. "Editors’ Comments on the Special Issue “Social Determinants of Mental Health”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-9, April.
    2. Carsten Müller & Kareem El-Ansari & Walid El Ansari, 2022. "Cross-Sectional Analysis of Mental Health among University Students: Do Sex and Academic Level Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Edyta Skwirczyńska & Mateusz Kozłowski & Katarzyna Nowak & Oskar Wróblewski & Agnieszka Sompolska-Rzechuła & Sebastian Kwiatkowski & Aneta Cymbaluk-Płoska, 2022. "Anxiety Assessment in Polish Students during the Russian–Ukrainian War," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-13, October.
    4. Ebrahim A. Al-Shaer & Meqbel M. Aliedan & Mohamed A. Zayed & Musaddag Elrayah & Mohamed A. Moustafa, 2024. "Mental Health and Quality of Life among University Students with Disabilities: The Moderating Role of Religiosity and Social Connectedness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-23, January.
    5. Drenjak Jasna Lulić & Užičanin Edin & Zenić Nataša, 2023. "Sport, Physical Activity and (Harmful) Alcohol Drinking in University Students During the First Year After COVID-19 Pandemic: Gender-Stratified Cross-Sectional Study," Polish Journal of Sport and Tourism, Sciendo, vol. 30(2), pages 15-21, June.
    6. Andrei V. Tarasov & Rofail S. Rakhmanov & Elena S. Bogomolova & Natalia A. Skoblina & Svetlana Ivanova & Stanislav Sukhikh & Olga Babich, 2023. "A Study of the Effects of a Diet with Functional Foods on the Adaptogenicity of First-Year Students to the Student Lifestyle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-23, June.
    7. Simone Rollo & Claudia Venuleo & Lucrezia Ferrante & Raffaele De Luca Picione, 2023. "What Adolescents Have to Say about Problematic Internet Use: A Qualitative Study Based on Focus Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(21), pages 1-19, November.
    8. Zhixuan Liao & Xiaomao Fan & Wenjun Ma & Yingshan Shen, 2024. "An Examination of Mental Stress in College Students: Utilizing Intelligent Perception Data and the Mental Stress Scale," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-14, May.
    9. Vanessa Blanco & Mar Salmerón & Patricia Otero & Fernando L. Vázquez, 2021. "Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress and Prevalence of Major Depression and Its Predictors in Female University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-18, May.
    10. Julia Burlaka & Renee M. Johnson & Christina N. Marsack-Topolewski & Kathryn Hughesdon & Jill Owczarzak & Oleksii Serdiuk & Roman Bogdanov & Viktor Burlaka, 2024. "Association between Current Substance Use, Healthy Behaviors, and Depression among Ukrainian College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(5), pages 1-11, May.
    11. Carlos Laranjeira & Maria Anjos Dixe & Olga Valentim & Zaida Charepe & Ana Querido, 2021. "Mental Health and Psychological Impact during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Survey of Portuguese Higher Education Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, December.
    12. Ovidiu Popa-Velea & Irina Pîrvan & Liliana Veronica Diaconescu, 2021. "The Impact of Self-Efficacy, Optimism, Resilience and Perceived Stress on Academic Performance and Its Subjective Evaluation: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-15, August.
    13. Enrique Ramón-Arbués & Emmanuel Echániz-Serrano & Blanca Martínez-Abadía & Isabel Antón-Solanas & Ana Cobos-Rincón & Iván Santolalla-Arnedo & Raúl Juárez-Vela & Benjamin Adam Jerue, 2022. "Predictors of the Quality of Life of University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, September.
    14. Telmo Raul Aveiro-Róbalo & Luciana Daniela Garlisi-Torales & Marisella Chumán-Sánchez & César J. Pereira-Victorio & Mariana Huaman-Garcia & Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas & Mario J. Valladares-Garrido, 2022. "Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in University Students in Paraguay during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, October.
    15. Azizah Alyoubi & Elizabeth J. Halstead & Zoe Zambelli & Dagmara Dimitriou, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students’ Mental Health and Sleep in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-16, September.
    16. Jiyoung Oh & Heykyung Park, 2022. "Effects of Changes in Environmental Color Chroma on Heart Rate Variability and Stress by Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-20, May.
    17. Mohd Rizal Abdul Manaf & Azmawati Mohammed Nawi & Noorlaili Mohd Tauhid & Hanita Othman & Mohd Rizam Abdul Rahman & Hanizah Mohd Yusoff & Nazarudin Safian & Pei Yuen Ng & Zahara Abdul Manaf & Nor Ba’y, 2021. "Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life amongst Employees in a Malaysian Public University," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-19, October.
    18. Naser M. Alotaibi & Moh A. Alkhamis & Mashael Alrasheedi & Khuloud Alotaibi & Latifa Alduaij & Fatemah Alazemi & Danah Alfaraj & Danah Alrowaili, 2024. "Psychological Disorders and Coping among Undergraduate College Students: Advocating for Students’ Counselling Services at Kuwait University," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-16, February.
    19. Irene Zapata & José Luis Maté-Muñoz & Alfonso Higueras & Juan Hernández-Lougedo & Natalia Martín-Fidalgo & Pablo García-Fernández & María Victoria Redondo-Vega & Jaime Ruiz-Tovar, 2022. "Toxic Habits and Well-Being Measures in Spanish Healthcare University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-15, October.
    20. Mirela Ioana Flueraşu & Ioana Corina Bocşan & Ioan-Andrei Țig & Simona Maria Iacob & Daniela Popa & Smaranda Buduru, 2022. "The Epidemiology of Bruxism in Relation to Psychological Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-11, January.
    21. Shih-Wei Yang & Malcolm Koo, 2022. "The Big Five Personality Traits as Predictors of Negative Emotional States in University Students in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-10, December.

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