Prevalence and influencing factors of anxiety in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Association of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and sleep quality with anxiety symptoms: a cross-sectional study of Tibetan college students at high altitude

Background

Research on the association between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption and sleep quality with anxiety symptoms has been highly emphasized. However, past studies have focused on college students in plains areas, while fewer research studies have been conducted on Tibetan college students at high altitudes. Whether this association changes due to ethnicity or altitude is unclear. The present study will contribute to the prevention and intervention of depressive symptoms among Tibetan college students at high altitude.

Methods

A self-assessment questionnaire was administered to 3,026 university students (1,491 boys students, 49.27%) on SSBs consumption, sleep quality and anxiety symptoms status in the Tibetan Plateau, a high-altitude region of China. Logistic regression analysis and ordered logistic regression analysis in generalized linear model were used to analyze the association between SSBs consumption and sleep quality with anxiety symptoms.

Results

The prevalence of anxiety symptoms among Tibetan college students at high altitude was 26.9%. SSBs consumption of ≤1 times/week, 2-5 times/week, and ≥ 6 times/week were 20.7, 28.1, and 45.7%, respectively, with statistically significant differences (χ2 value of 134.353, p < 0.001). Anxiety detection rates for Sleep quality of Good (PSQI ≤5), Moderate (PSQI 6-7), and Poor (PSQI >7) were 16.8, 19.8, and 32.0%, respectively, and the difference was also statistically significant (χ2 value was 73.761, p < 0.001). The ordered logistic regression analysis in the generalized linear model showed that, overall, the group of college students with SSBs ≤1 times/week and sleep quality of Good served as the reference group, and the group with SSBs ≥6 times/week and sleep quality of Poor (OR: 5.06, 95% CI: 3.75-6.83) had the highest risk of anxiety symptoms.

Conclusion

SSBs consumption and sleep quality were associated with anxiety symptoms, and there was an interaction effect. Effective control of SSBs consumption and improvement of sleep quality may be important factors in preventing and reducing the occurrence of anxiety symptoms.

Depression, anxiety, and stress in medical students in Peru: a cross-sectional study

Objective

To determine the prevalence and factors associated with depressive, anxious, and stress symptoms in medical students in Peru, during the second pandemic wave of COVID-19.

Methods

We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study in 405 medical students from a university in northern Peru. The DASS-21 instrument was used to evaluate mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and stress), and to investigate their association with socio-educational characteristics.

Results

We found a prevalence of depressive, anxious, and stress symptoms of 71.6% (95% CI: 66.94-75.95), 71.9% (95% CI: 67.2-76.2), and 62.7% (95% CI: 57.8-67.4); respectively. Students with eating behavior disorders had a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms (PR: 1.35), anxious symptoms (PR: 1.27), and stress symptoms (PR: 1.31). The prevalence of depressive symptoms (PR: 1.57), anxious symptoms (PR: 1.27), and stress symptoms (PR: 1.24) increased in students who did not report regular physical activity. In addition, having almost always academic exhaustion increased the prevalence of depressive symptoms (PR: 1.46), stress symptoms (PR: 1.72). On the contrary, the prevalence of depressive symptoms (PR: 0.79), anxious symptoms (PR: 0.73) and stress symptoms (PR: 0.82) decreased in male students. Students who reported sleeping 8 or more hours daily had a lower prevalence of stress symptoms (PR: 0.82).

Conclusion

Symptoms of depression and anxiety occurred in 7 out of 10 students, and stress in 6 out of 10. Among the factors associated with the presence of anxiety, depression, and stress were eating behavior disorder and not regularly exercising. Periodic evaluations of mental symptomatology are required and counseling should be promoted in medical schools.

Risk factors and digital interventions for anxiety disorders in college students: Stakeholder perspectives

The worldwide prevalence of anxiety disorders among college students is high, which negatively affects countries, schools, families, and individual students to varying degrees. This paper reviews the relevant literature regarding risk factors and digital interventions for anxiety disorders among college students from the perspectives of different stakeholders. Risk factors at the national and societal levels include class differences and the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. College-level risk factors include the indoor environment design of the college environment, peer relationships, student satisfaction with college culture, and school functional levels. Family-level risk factors include parenting style, family relationship, and parental level of education. Individual-level risk factors include biological factors, lifestyle, and personality. Among the intervention options for college students' anxiety disorders, in addition to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, psychological counseling, and group counseling, digital mental health interventions are increasingly popular due to their low cost, positive effect, and convenient diagnostics and treatment. To better apply digital intervention to the prevention and treatment of college students' anxiety, this paper suggests that the different stakeholders form a synergy among themselves. The nation and society should provide necessary policy guarantees, financial support, and moral and ethical supervision for the prevention and treatment of college students' anxiety disorders. Colleges should actively participate in the screening and intervention of college students' anxiety disorders. Families should increase their awareness of college students' anxiety disorders and take the initiative to study and understand various digital intervention methods. College students with anxiety disorders should actively seek psychological assistance and actively accept and participate in digital intervention projects and services. We believe that in the future, the application of methods such as big data and artificial intelligence to improve digital interventions and provide individualized treatment plans will become the primary means of preventing and treating anxiety disorders among college students.