Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in University Students in Paraguay during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aveiro-Róbalo T.R.; Garlisi-Torales L.D.; Chumán-Sánchez M.; Pereira-Victorio C.J.; Huaman-Garcia M.; Failoc-Rojas V.E.; Valladares-Garrido M.J. · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022) · DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912930

Resumen

We aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in university students in Paraguay during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 293 students from four universities in Paraguay in 2021. The DASS-21 mental health scale was used to measure the outcomes (depression, anxiety, and stress) and evaluate their association with socio-educational variables. A total of 77.1% of the participants were women and 136 (46.4%) were between 21 and 25 years old. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 74.7%, 87.4%, and 57%, respectively. We found that being a woman and studying at a public university was positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Receiving COVID-19 training increases the prevalence of mental health problems. In conclusion, high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress were found in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being a woman, studying at a public university, and receiving training on COVID-19 were factors associated with a higher prevalence of presenting all the mental health problems evaluated. Furthermore, students aged 31 and over had a higher prevalence of depression and stress.

Instituciones: Universidad de San Martín de Porres; Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola; Universidad Continental; Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener; Universidad César Vallejo