Mental Health Burden Among Health Sciences Undergraduates at a Rural South African University: Assessing Anxiety and Depression
1
Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
2
School of Medicine, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa
3
School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2603
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Depression and anxiety are common mental health disorders among university students, and evidence suggests that health sciences students may be particularly vulnerable, yet data from rural South African universities remain limited. This study assessed the severity of depression and anxiety and their socio-demographic correlates among Faculty of Health Sciences students at a rural university in South Africa.
METHODS:
A descriptive, quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among all eligible undergraduate students enrolled in 2024 in Pharmacy, Medicine, Optometry, Nursing Science, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and Medical Sciences (N=1679). Using total population purposive sampling, 848 students completed a self-administered questionnaire comprising socio-demographic items, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD‑7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire‑9 (PHQ‑9). Independent t‑tests and ANOVA examined associations between anxiety/depression scores and socio-demographic, clinical, and student variables at a significance level of p≤0.05.
RESULTS:
Most participants were female (62.5%), from rural backgrounds (80.1%), and first- or second-year students (55.5%). Across fields, high levels of anxiety and depression were observed: Pharmacy students had the highest proportions of Mild (40.3%) and Severe GAD (29.2%), and Mild (47.2%) and Moderate depression (30.1%). Medicine students showed the highest Moderate GAD (55.1%) and Moderately Severe depression (22.5%), while Optometry and Nursing students had notable levels of Moderately Severe GAD (29.2% and 20.4%) and Severe depression (25.2% and 26.4%), respectively. Significant associations were found between total GAD scores and gender, age, level and field of study, monthly allowance, having children, history of psychiatric illness, chronic illness, psychiatric medication use, prior psychological support, and previous trauma (p≤0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent among health sciences students, with severity varying by discipline and socio-demographic and clinical factors. The findings underscore the need for targeted, gender- and age-sensitive mental health interventions, strengthened counselling and academic support initiatives to promote early identification and support of at-risk students.
Depression and anxiety are common mental health disorders among university students, and evidence suggests that health sciences students may be particularly vulnerable, yet data from rural South African universities remain limited. This study assessed the severity of depression and anxiety and their socio-demographic correlates among Faculty of Health Sciences students at a rural university in South Africa.
METHODS:
A descriptive, quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among all eligible undergraduate students enrolled in 2024 in Pharmacy, Medicine, Optometry, Nursing Science, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and Medical Sciences (N=1679). Using total population purposive sampling, 848 students completed a self-administered questionnaire comprising socio-demographic items, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD‑7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire‑9 (PHQ‑9). Independent t‑tests and ANOVA examined associations between anxiety/depression scores and socio-demographic, clinical, and student variables at a significance level of p≤0.05.
RESULTS:
Most participants were female (62.5%), from rural backgrounds (80.1%), and first- or second-year students (55.5%). Across fields, high levels of anxiety and depression were observed: Pharmacy students had the highest proportions of Mild (40.3%) and Severe GAD (29.2%), and Mild (47.2%) and Moderate depression (30.1%). Medicine students showed the highest Moderate GAD (55.1%) and Moderately Severe depression (22.5%), while Optometry and Nursing students had notable levels of Moderately Severe GAD (29.2% and 20.4%) and Severe depression (25.2% and 26.4%), respectively. Significant associations were found between total GAD scores and gender, age, level and field of study, monthly allowance, having children, history of psychiatric illness, chronic illness, psychiatric medication use, prior psychological support, and previous trauma (p≤0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent among health sciences students, with severity varying by discipline and socio-demographic and clinical factors. The findings underscore the need for targeted, gender- and age-sensitive mental health interventions, strengthened counselling and academic support initiatives to promote early identification and support of at-risk students.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
