Selected Demographics as Factors Affecting Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels among Health-Allied Students

Abstract

Students, in general, have become more vulnerable to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Several known factors contribute to high depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) levels. Mainly, this study determined the prevalence of DAS among health-allied students as well as the association and effect of selected demographics, such as sex, current residential area (within Metro Manila or outside Metro Manila), current living status (with or without a companion), estimated monthly household income, academic program, and year level, on their DAS levels. Hence, an online survey was conducted among the Medical Technology, Pharmacy, and Biochemistry undergraduate students (n = 656) of the University of Santo Tomas. Results showed that, relatively, the most prevalent psychological distress among the respondents is anxiety. It was also found to be the only dependent variable that is significantly associated (p = .009) with as well as significantly affected by the selected demographics, particularly by sex (p = .003) and year level (p = .009). The remaining selected demographics showed no significance in the DAS levels of the respondents. The results were both substantiated as well as disproved by various gathered literature, discrepancies of which may be attributed to the differences in research methodology, biological factors, and sociocultural settings. Despite such variances, one thing remains consistent: the alarming rates of psychological distress among university students, particularly health-allied and medical students. The findings of this study could lead to a better understanding of what truly affects the DAS levels of health-allied undergraduate students. Therefore, future studies should be pursued to benefit students and encourage collaborative effort and actions from family members or guardians and academic institutions to tackle mental health problems.