Symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective Investigate how the exposure to the disease and changes in work conditions influenced the perception of stress, anxiety, and depression levels. Method 405 students from Higher Education Institutions in Brazil answered an online form composed of a sociodemographic and exposure to COVID-19 questionnaire and stress, anxiety, and depression scales. Results It was observed that the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among the participants was 56.8%, 41.7%, and 37.0%, respectively. Furthermore, stress assumed a role as a mediator of levels of anxiety and depression. Conclusion The data from this study can support the development of institutional actions that help students to better handle the difficulties arising from the pandemic and/or other sources of stressors that impact academic life.