The Prevalence of Stress, Anxiety and Depression Among School Going Adolescents Following Covid Pandemic

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown which were its consequences have resulted in both short-term and long-term implications in mental health of adolescents. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among students in the post-COVID period and its risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 students studying grades 9–12 in government high schools and higher secondary schools in a city in South India in October and November 2021. A self-administered questionnaire containing socio-demographic data and DASS-21 scale was used. The outcome variable, namely prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression was expressed in proportion with a 95% confidence interval. The relation between an outcome variable and socio-demographic variables was determined by a chi-square test and p value <.05 was considered significant. Results: Mean (standard deviation) age was 15.76 (1.104) years and 50.7% were boys. The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of stress, anxiety and depression were 30.3% (25.18–35.88), 47.3% (41.57–53.15) and 56.7% (50.85–62.35), respectively. Maternal illiteracy was significantly associated with stress and depression ( p < .5). Conclusion: Consequent to the COVID-19 pandemic, almost one-third of school-going adolescents aged 14–18 years’ experience stress and almost half of them experience anxiety and depression which is comparable to that observed before the onset of this pandemic.