Depression, Anxiety and Stress according to socio-academic and health-spiritual characteristics in students from a Peruvian public university

Abstract

Objective: To determine the levels of depression, anxiety and stress according to socio-academic and health-spiritual characteristics in students of a Peruvian public university.Methods: Prospective and cross-sectional study, conducted in a sample of 106 university students, during November-December 2023. A questionnaire with socio-academic and health-spiritual characteristics was applied; the main variable was assessed with the "Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales" (DASS-21). A descriptive statistical analysis was applied and differences were evaluated with Chi-square, considering a significance level of p<0.05.Results: Of the participants, 53.8% had mild depression, 26.4% had moderate anxiety and 21.7% had moderate stress. The levels of depression, anxiety and stress were different according to age, relationship with their friends and social environment, economic situation, physical condition, emotional-affective state, presence of frequent sleeping problems, presence of frequent health problems, in those who consider themselves spiritual persons, response to academic burdens, among others.Conclusions: The levels of depression, anxiety and stress vary according to the socio-academic and health-spiritual characteristics of university students.