Research Article | Open Access
University Anxiety, Depression and Stress in Pandemic Times
Jessica Paola Palacios Garay Luciano Pérez Guevara José Luis Valdez Asto Ulises Córdova García Gloria Luz Cueva Vergara Sonia Lidia Romero Vela
Pages: 455-467
Abstract
Fear and uncertainty, related to emergency health measures such as confinement by
Covid-19, has generated anxiety, depression and stress. In this context, the objective
of this work has been to establish the correlation between the three variables. The type
of study was carried out under a quantitative approach, basic type, descriptive level,
with a non-experimental cross-sectional-correlational design. The DASS-21 scale
(Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995) was used to measure the variables indicated. The
sample comprised a total of 440 students of Human Medicine from the first to the fifth
cycle; it was composed of 173 females (39.3%) and 267 males (60.7%). The selection
was made under non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The descriptive statistical
findings revealed the difference in the students: males presented higher levels in the
variables measured: anxiety in 58.2%; depression, 56.4% and stress, 34.8%. In the
hypothesis test, the correlation between the anxiety variable and the depression
variable obtained a result of Spearman's Rho = 0.804**, which is interpreted as a high
positive relationship between the variables. As for the correlation between the anxiety
variable and the stress variable, a Spearman's Rho = 0.893 was obtained, which is
interpreted as high correlation between the variables.
Keywords
Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Pandemic, COVID-19