Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Secondary School Students in Jeddah City

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization identified mental health as "essential to human health" in its plan for preventing, treating, and conquering mental health diseases. It is believed that anxiety and depression, according to the American Psychological Association (APA), are both emotional responses that cause a comparable cluster of characteristics, such as sleep problems, exhaustion, muscular tightness, and restlessness. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among high school students in Jeddah city. Methods: A cross-sectional study; was carried out at selected secondary schools in Jeddah city from different districts (North-South-West-East); during the period from January 2022 to May 2022. The population sample for this study included female secondary students. Sample calculation was done by Stephen Thompson formula. Results: It was found that more than half [57.1%] of the participants are free from depression; [53.4%] are free from anxiety; while [81.0%] are not suffering from stress. There was a statistically significant correlation between depression and stress among students and their academic achievement. Moreover, there was a significant association between anxiety among students and their parent's status. Conclusion: School students' stress, anxiety, and depression prevalence are relatively high. Several variables were significantly associated with secondary school students suffering from stress, anxiety, and depression, such as academic achievement, family income, and marital status of students and their parents. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 23(6), June 2022: 1-12