Keywords
cross-sectional study
psychological
How to Cite
Abstract
Background
Anxiety and depression are serious public health problems that have long-lasting effects. Depression is a frequent illness that affects a person's capacity to carry out daily tasks. Undergraduate students may encounter a stressed state that can happen at varied periods or levels and has a negative impact on academic success, psychological well-being and physical wellness. This research aims to study the impact of depression and anxiety on the academic performance of undergraduates.
Methodology
A three-month descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Sample size was 513 (M=171, F=342) Data collection was done based on the questionnaires including the DASS-21 scale as the study instrument. Data analysis was done through SPSS.
Result
The results of this cross-sectional study indicated that 148 students felt that they were over reacting to simple situations and 122 were experiencing trembling. About 28% students complained about feeling panic. While assessing the academic scale, the results indicated that 96(18.7%) respondents were not able to actively participate in every discussion. About 21.83% found it difficult to start project as assigned. And 100 respondents were not able to enjoy curricular activities. The study also revealed that there was no statistical significance or association between study faculty and depression, indicating that both medical and non-medical students were equally engaged in this practice. However, p-value showed that there was a significant association of social class, gender and residence with depression.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this descriptive quantitative study conducted in Universities of Pakistan indicated that depressed students can have issues regarding their academic performance. It revealed that about 25% of the students (sample size=513) had depressive thoughts and 20% of them were having problems in their academics. Further research can focus on understanding some other risk factors for depression, and in exploring the major effects of depression on students’ academics. In this way, we can work towards minimizing the anxiety related issues among students, depressive mindsets related to the exams and ensuring the academic credibility of undergraduates.