Abstract
Numerous studies have explored the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among university students worldwide. However, only a few have examined how these symptoms affect students' academic performance. This systematic review explores the relationship between depression, anxiety, and academic performance among undergraduate university students. Peer-reviewed articles published between 1997 and June 2020 were included if they: (a) were in English; (b) had a study population that was exclusively undergraduate students; (c) the study assessed depression and/or anxiety through standardized, validated measures; and (d) included an objective outcome measure of academic performance. Of 2,746 citations, 10 met the eligibility criteria, representing 14,695 participants. All six cross-sectional analyses and three of four longitudinal studies reported a negative relationship between depression and academic performance. Three cross-sectional analyses and one longitudinal study reported a negative relationship between anxiety and academic performance. This review supports a consistent relationship between depression and academic performance but less support for anxiety. Depressive and anxiety symptoms have a significant impact on university students’ academic performance.
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