Assessment of Mental Well-being in the Medical & Non-medical Students in the Twin Cities of Pakistan: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Worldwide, especially in Pakistan, concerns are growing concerning the prevalence of mental health issues among university students. This study examines the frequency of stress, anxiety, and depression to assess the mental health of students at the medical and non-medical universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. 

Objectives: This research aims to look at mental health in a variety of academic domains, find out how common mental health issues are among students in Pakistan's twin cities, and look at possible connections between sociodemographic factors and depression, stress, and anxiety. 

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 352 undergraduate students from eight medical and eight non-medical universities was carried out using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). An online questionnaire was utilized to gather data using convenience sampling. To find correlations between different demographic characteristics and mental health outcomes, statistical analyses were conducted using Chi-square testing, Mann-Whitney U tests, and logistic regression. 

Results: The study found that 70.7% of students experienced depression, 74.1% experienced anxiety, and 21% experienced stress above normal levels. Non-medical students reported higher levels of depression (76.7%) and anxiety (68.66%) compared to medical students (62.7% and 37.3%, respectively). Stress levels were comparable between the two groups. Significant associations were found between depression, anxiety, and the field of study (p<0.05). Gender was significantly associated with stress (p=0.017) and anxiety (p=0.035), with a higher prevalence among female students. 

Conclusion: The results show that anxiety and depression are common among Pakistani university students, with non-medical students being more susceptible. The study emphasizes how important it is for institutions to have targeted mental health interventions and support services to successfully deal with these problems. 

Keywords: Students, Mental Health, Stress, Anxiety, Depression.