Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of depression, anxiety, and co-morbidity during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study among public and private university students of Bangladesh

Abstract

• This is the first study to differentiate the prevalence of depression and anxiety among public and private university students in Bangladesh. • Compared to private universities, students from public universities suffer more from moderate to severe levels of depression and anxiety. • Symptoms of depression, anxiety and co-morbidity are more prevalent among female students, students who are in third and fourth year of undergraduate study and spend less time with family during COVID-19. COVID-19 has significantly impacted the mental health of students. However, in the context of Bangladesh, no study has explored whether students from public and private universities have been affected differently. Therefore, the aim of the study is to focus on the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and co-morbidity among both types of university students and identify their potential correlates. The study applied convenience sampling to collect data from 333 university students. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were used to assess depression and anxiety respectively along with co-morbidity. Descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to examine the association of variables. Among public university students, 59.16% had depression, 53.99% had anxiety and 46.95% had co-morbidity ranging from moderate to severe level. 30.83%, 33.33% and 24.17% of the private university students showed moderate to severe levels of depression, anxiety, and co-morbidity respectively. Overall, female students, students enrolled in third and fourth year, living in nuclear families, and students who spent less time with family reported having higher level of depression, anxiety, and co-morbidity. Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, we were unable to make causal inferences. Also, data collected through snowball-sampling were prone to selection bias. COVID-19 pandemic imposes a greater burden on mental health of students with different socioeconomic characteristics and university type. Therefore, appropriate psychological interventions are needed to address these differences.