LEVELS AND DETERMINANTS OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND MENTAL STRESS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN BANGLADESH: A STUDY ON KHULNA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Modern life has led to a significant increase in depression, anxiety, and mental stress compared to past times, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. University students have been going through different critical psychological stresses for a variety of reasons.  The study was designed to know the levels and determinants of depression, anxiety, and mental stress during COVID-19 among university students. A total of 369 students from honors second year to fourth year and masters’ students at Khulna University participated in this cross-sectional web-based survey. Researchers have used convenience sampling as a technique of data collection. The levels of depression, anxiety, and mental stress were measured by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) scale and Perceived Stress scale (PSS-4). A chi-square test was performed to test the hypothesis. The findings suggest a majority of the respondents' depression, anxiety, and mental stress levels were moderate to severe. Results of the chi-square test depicted that age, gender, place of residence, lagging academically, becoming infected with COVID-19, losing tuition, and uncertainty of career persuasion were significantly associated with depression where the p-value was <0.05. On the other hand, except age and place of residence there was a significant association between demographic variables and anxiety. Income, lagging academically, infected with COVID-19, loss any tuition, and career persuasion were significantly associated with mental stress. The family, relatives, society, university, government, and other NGOs should work together and take proper initiatives to reduce depression, anxiety, and mental stress among university students.