Understanding the burden of depression, anxiety and stress among first-year undergraduate students.

Abstract

This study investigated the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among first-year university students and predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress among this cohort of students. Six hundred and eighty-eight (688) first-year undergraduate students were sampled for the study. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was used to assess the prevalence of mental health issues. The results showed prevalence rates for depression, anxiety, and stress among students were 49%, 75%, and 73.26%, respectively. Females reported higher levels of all three variables. There were positive correlations between academic stress and depression (r =.27), anxiety (r =.21), and stress (r =.23), all significant at p <.001. These results suggest that depression, anxiety, and stress are common mental health issues among undergraduate students, affecting individuals to varying degrees and influenced by a range of factors.