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Depression and Anxiety of Portuguese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study about Prevalence and Associated Factors

2024-01-12Journal article Open access
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dc.contributor.authorAmaro, Pedro
dc.contributor.authorFonseca, César
dc.contributor.authorAfonso, Anabela
dc.contributor.authorJacinto, Gonçalo
dc.contributor.authorGomes, Luis
dc.contributor.authorPereira, Helder
dc.contributor.authorJosé, Helena
dc.contributor.authorSilva, Celso
dc.contributor.authorLima, Andreia
dc.contributor.authorArco, Helena
dc.contributor.authorNabais, João
dc.contributor.authorLopes, Manuel
dc.contributor.authorPereira, Anabela
dc.contributor.authorFragoeiro, Isabel
dc.contributor.authorPinho, Lara
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-17T12:32:42Z
dc.date.available2024-01-17T12:32:42Z
dc.date.issued2024-01-12
dc.description.abstractABSTRACT: The mental health of university students has worsened over time, and it is young people who have suffered the most from the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of mental health. Anxiety and depression are the most common symptoms reported by university students and are often the cause of disabilities, either in academic performance or in other spheres of life. Aim. The aim of this study was to both assess the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in Portuguese university students and analyze the factors associated with these symptoms. Methods. A quantitative cross-sectional study with a sample of 3,399 university students from seven Portuguese higher education institutions was conducted. The following questionnaires were used: the generalized anxiety disorder assessment scale (GAD-7), the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), and a study-created sociodemographic questionnaire. The Kendall correlation coefficient, chi-square test of independence, Spearman correlation coefficient, Shapiro-Wilk test, Mann–Whitney-Wilcoxon test, and Kruskall-Wallis test were used to analyze the association between variables. The statistical analysis was done using the software R Statistics (Version 4.0.4), using a significance level of 0.05. Results. Mild to severe anxiety symptoms were reported by 75% of the participants, and 61.2% described mild to severe depressive symptoms. Of the sample, 19.5% reported a previous diagnosis of a mental disorder, with 38.7% diagnosed after the pandemic began. Additionally, 23% reported taking medication for mental health issues, and 26.7% had considered self-harm or harbored thoughts of being “better off dead.” The study found lower anxiety and depressive symptoms (p < 0 05) among men, students with higher socioeconomic status, those who frequently traveled home, individuals without prior mental health diagnoses, those with better academic performance, and those who avoided substances like coffee, tobacco, cannabis, and other illegal psychoactive substances. Interestingly, students in romantic relationships exhibited more anxiety symptoms (p < 0 05). Moreover, participants who believed they had experienced moral or sexual harassment displayed higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms (p < 0 001). Conclusions. There was a decrease in the mental health of university students after the pandemic compared to prepandemic studies, and the proportion of students with anxiety and depressive symptoms was alarming. There is an urgent need to implement programs in universities to promote students’ mental health.pt_PT
dc.description.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionpt_PT
dc.identifier.citationAmaro, P., Fonseca, C., Afonso, A., Jacinto, G., Gomes, Luis. ... Pinho, L. (2023). Depression and Anxiety of Portuguese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study about Prevalence and Associated Factors. "Depression and Anxiety", vol. 2024, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5528350pt_PT
dc.identifier.doi10.1155/2024/5528350pt_PT
dc.identifier.issn1520-6394
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.3/6863
dc.language.isoengpt_PT
dc.publisherWiley; Hindawipt_PT
dc.relationComprehensive Health Research Center - Research, Education, Training and Innovation in Clinical research and Public Health
dc.subjectMental Healthpt_PT
dc.subjectDepressionpt_PT
dc.subjectAnxietypt_PT
dc.subjectCOVID-19pt_PT
dc.subjectStudentspt_PT
dc.subjectNursingpt_PT
dc.titleDepression and Anxiety of Portuguese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study about Prevalence and Associated Factorspt_PT
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.awardTitleComprehensive Health Research Center - Research, Education, Training and Innovation in Clinical research and Public Health
oaire.awardURIinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDP%2F04923%2F2020/PT
oaire.citation.endPage14pt_PT
oaire.citation.startPage1pt_PT
oaire.citation.titleDepression and Anxietypt_PT
oaire.citation.volume2024pt_PT
oaire.fundingStream6817 - DCRRNI ID
project.funder.identifierhttp://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871
project.funder.nameFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
rcaap.rightsopenAccesspt_PT
rcaap.typearticlept_PT
relation.isProjectOfPublication45799b2d-d102-434e-bb0c-6b9d82c36a0e
relation.isProjectOfPublication.latestForDiscovery45799b2d-d102-434e-bb0c-6b9d82c36a0e

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