Prevalence and Associations between Anxiety, Depression, and Stress among Peruvian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/revsalud/a.10717

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Published: Sep 8, 2022
Issue: Vol. 20 No. 3 (2022): Ciencias de la Salud
Section Clinical or Experimental Research


Keywords: coronavirus , pandemia , salud mental , estudiantes , Perú coronavirus , pandemic , mental health , students , Peru coronavírus , pandemia , saúde mental , estudantes , Peru

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Authors

  Christian R. Mejia Universidad Continental (Lima, Perú).
Laura Ccasa-Valero Universidad Nacional del Altiplano (Puno, Perú).
Alan Quispe-Sancho Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco (Cusco, Perú).
Julio C. Charri Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión (Pasco, Perú).
Christeam A. Benites-Ibarra Universidad Nacional del Santa (Nuevo Chimbote, Perú).
Kevin Flores-Lovon Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa (Arequipa, Perú).
Jhosephi Vasquez-Ascate Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana (Iquitos, Perú).
Noelia Morocho-Alburqueque Sociedad Científica de Estudiantes de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Piura (sociemunp) (Piura, Perú).
Dalma Nicolle Jorge Fernandez Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista (Ica, Perú).
Yonatan Gómez-Mamani Escuela de Medicina Humana, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Peruana Unión. Lima, Perú. Sociedad Científica de Estudiantes de Medicina de la Universidad Peruana Unión (socem - UPeU)
Abstract

Introduction: The pandemic has brought about social changes, which may have affected mental health. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of and associations between anxiety, depression, and stress among Peruvian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This was an analytical, multi-centered, cross-sectional study conducted with 2,572 university students from 16 Peruvian cities. Depression, anxiety, and stress diagnoses were obtained with the dass-21 scale (stress alpha: 0.85; anxiety alpha: 0.84; and depression alpha: 0.87). The values were crossed with significant social and educational variables. Results: Anxiety was the most common condition (extremely severe in 4%, severe in 3 %, and moderate in 10 %). Whereas stress and depression were not associated with the course of studies (p > 0.330 and p > 0.440, respectively), anxiety was lower among students pursuing health-related degrees (p = 0.011). Women showed higher levels of stress (p = 0.040) and anxiety (p = 0.017). Older participants had relatively lower stress (p = 0.002), depression (p = 0.006), and anxiety (p = 0.044) levels. Third-year students had higher depression levels than first-year students (p = 0.011). Conclusions: Significant prevalence levels and associations were identified for the three conditions, which should be monitored to determine their current status, given the possible future occurrence of panic attacks or post-traumatic stress, among other complications.

How to Cite
Mejia, C. R. ., Ccasa-Valero, L., Quispe-Sancho, A., Charri, J. C. ., Benites-Ibarra, C. A. ., Flores-Lovon, K. ., … Gómez-Mamani, Y. . (2022). Prevalence and Associations between Anxiety, Depression, and Stress among Peruvian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Revista Ciencias De La Salud, 20(3). https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/revsalud/a.10717
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