DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.169745.1 ISSN: 2046-1402

Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with depression, anxiety and stress in students and teachers of a public university in the Andean region: a cross-sectional study

Rosario Yslado-Méndez, Stefan Escobar-Agreda, David Villareal-Zegarra, Wilfredo Manuel Trejo Flores, Junior Duberli Sánchez-Broncano, Jovanna Hasel Olivares Córdova, Claudia Alvarez Yslado, Leonardo Rojas-Mezarina
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Background Several factors affect the presence of mental health problems in university students and teachers. However, in the Andean region, the identification of these factors is rare. Objective This study sought to evaluate the factors associated with depression, anxiety and perceived stress in students and teachers at a university located in the Andean region. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023, including students and teachers with at least one academic cycle at a Peruvian public university in the Andean region. Online surveys were used to collect sociodemographic and clinical data, and validated questionnaires for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7) and stress (PSS-10) were applied. Descriptive analyses and adjusted regressions were performed to identify significant associations. Results A total of 1275 individuals with a median age of 22 years participated; 43.6% were women. A total of 69.3% of the participants reported signs of depression, 62.2% reported anxiety, and 78.4% reported stress. Compared with those aged 20–39 years, students younger than 20 years presented a greater prevalence of mental health problems. A personal mental health history was associated with a greater prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress in students and a greater prevalence of anxiety in teachers. Family history was associated with a greater prevalence of depression and anxiety in students and teachers. Conclusions Sociodemographic and clinical factors are associated with mental health problems in students and teachers in the Andean region. It is essential to consider these particularities to develop effective interventions to address mental health in these settings.

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