Exploring the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in Bangladesh and their determinants

Background

Depression, anxiety and stress among university students present a growing global challenge. This study aims to explore the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and identifying their associated factors among university students in Bangladesh.

Methods

We analyzed data of 738 university students collected through a cross-sectional survey. Outcome variables considered were depression, anxiety, and stress levels. Explanatory variables considered were several socio-demographic characteristics. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was employed to explore the association of the outcome variables with explanatory variables.

Results

We found a notable prevalence of moderate to severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in Bangladesh, ranging from 25 % to 71 %. Among students from extended families, there was a 32 % lower likelihood of experiencing moderate depression (relative risk ratio [RRR], 0.68; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.47–0.97) and a 35 % lower likelihood of experiencing stress (RRR, 0.65; 95 % CI, 0.44–0.97) compared to their counterparts without depression and stress. Furthermore, students enrolled in the business faculty reported a significantly higher likelihood of stress, with a 2.28 times greater odds (95 % CI, 1.32–3.93) compared to students in the Science and Engineering faculty.

Conclusion

This study underscores the pressing necessity for tailored interventions to address the elevated prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in Bangladesh. The findings accentuate the importance of recognizing diverse risk factors and implementing mental health support programs.