STRESS, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN HO CHI MINH CITY

Abstract

Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress are common mental health issues that have severe impacts, particularly on adolescents. The prevalence of these issues among high school students in Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, has risen significantly in recent years.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression and their associated factors among high school students in Ho Chi Minh city in 2024.

Methods: A cross-sectional study used multistage sampling to recruit 976 students from two high schools in Ho Chi Minh City. Data was collected from February to April 2024 using a self-administrated questionnaire. DASS-Y was used to assess depression, anxiety and stress. ESSA was used to measure academic pressure.

Results: The mean age of students was 17.0 (SD 0.8). Females represented 53.4%. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress were 31.7%, 25.1% and 23.8%, respectively. The percentage of students having at least one issue condition was 42.4% and having all three issues conditions was 13.2%. Factors associated with depression included being female (adjusted prevalence ratios [aPR]=1.24, CI95%:1.03-1.50), experienced moderate (aPR=1.82, CI95%: 1.60-2.06) to severe (aPR=3.31, CI95%: 2.57-4.27) studying academic pressure, had having separated parents (aPR=1.44, CI95%: 1.16-1.77), had having an adequate (aPR=0.70, CI95%: 0.54-0.88) or higher (aPR=0.69, CI95%: 0.50-0.95) economic status. Factors associated with anxiety included being female (aPR=1.30, CI95%: 1.03-1.63), experienced experiencing moderate (aPR=1.68, CI95%: 1.45-1.94) to severe (aPR=2.82, CI95%: 2.11-3.77) studying academic pressure, had having mother with a high school education completion (aPR=0.57, CI95%: 0.36-0.88). Factors associated with stress included being female (aPR=1.47, CI95%: 1.15-1.87), experiencinged moderate (aPR=1.92, CI95%: 1.64-2.25) to severe (aPR=3.70, CI95%: 2.71-5.06) studying academic pressure, had afollowing religion (aPR=1.23, CI95%: 1.01-1.52), had having separated parents (aPR=1.42, CI95%: 1.09-1.86), had having a literate mother (aPR=3.18, CI95%: 1.10-9.13), had having mother with a primary school (aPR=3.53, CI95%: 1.34-9.27), middle school (aPR=3.80, CI95%: 1.48-9.72), high school (aPR=3.18, CI95%: 1.23-8.25), and university or college education (aPR=3.61, CI95%: 1.39-9.35).

Conclusion: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was high among high school students, with significant factors including gender, studying pressure, parental marital status, family economic status, and mother's education level. Schools should adjust studying pressure and provide psychological consultancy and mental health education campaign to students and their family, particularly programs for female students.

Keywords: mental health; Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-Y; adolescent health