Depression and Anxiety among University Students: A Comparison between COVID-19 Pandemic Panic Period and Post-panic Period in Bangladesh

Gowranga Paul; Mohammad Meshbahur Rahman; Shayla Naznin; Mashfiqul Chowdhury; Md Jamal Uddin

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2022.7559

Authors

Gowranga Paul Department of Statistics, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail, Bangladesh
Mohammad Meshbahur Rahman Department of Biostatistics, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Department of Digital Health, Biomedical Research Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7471-6042
Shayla Naznin Department of Statistics, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3077-3640
Mashfiqul Chowdhury Department of Statistics, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3438-6645
Md Jamal Uddin Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8360-3274

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.7559

Keywords:

Depression, Anxiety, COVID-19 pandemic, University students, Bangladesh

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In Bangladesh, the rapid spread of COVID-19 virus created a panic situation among the citizen. Specially, the psycho-emotional disorder of the university students is increasing which has not been adequately investigated.

AIM: Relating this, the study aimed to assess the psycho-emotional changes of the university students through investigating their level of depression and anxiety during panic and post-panic period of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.

METHOD: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among the university students in Bangladesh from April to July 2020 (panic period, n = 170) and then from August to November 2020 (post-panic period, n = 170). The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaires were used to assess the depression and anxiety levels of the students, respectively. Various univariate and multivariable statistical techniques were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS: The proportion of depression symptoms was 49.4% and 52.4% during the panic period and post-panic period, respectively. Anxiety symptoms were experienced by 38.2% of students during the panic period, and the percentage was nearly identical in the post-panic interval. In post-panic period, depression levels found a slight increase. Urban students reported significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of depression and anxiety than their counterparts. Female students also exhibited significantly more anxiety symptoms (p < 0.002) than male. Depression symptoms significantly varied by family types and student’s place of residence.

CONCLUSIONS: This study compared the depression and anxiety symptoms of the university students during two periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the difference was small, it remains an issue for the university students in Bangladesh due to the disruption to their academic lives.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Plum Analytics Artifact Widget Block

References

Ahammed T, Anjum A, Rahman MM, Haider N, Kock R, Uddin MJ. Estimation of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) reproduction number and case fatality rate: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Sci Rep. 2021;4(2):e274. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.274 PMid:33977156 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.274

Rahman MM, Bhattacharjee B, Farhana Z, Hamiduzzaman M, Chowdhury MAB, Hossain MS, et al. Age-related risk factors and severity of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Prev Med Hyg. 2021;62(2):E329. https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2021.62.2.1946 PMid:34604574

Haque MF, Rahman MM, Alif SM, Akter E, Barua S, Paul GK, et al. Estimation and prediction of doubling time for COVID-19 epidemic in Bangladesh: A modelling study of first 14 month’s daily confirmed new cases and deaths. Glob Biosecur. 2021;3(2). https://doi.org/10.31646/gbio.91 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31646/gbio.91

World Health Organization. WHO Director-General’s Opening Remarks at the Media Briefing on COVID-19-11 March 2020. WHO Director General’s Speeches. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. p. 4.

Rossi R, Socci V, Pacitti F, Mensi S, Di Marco A, Siracusano A, et al. Mental health outcomes among healthcare workers and the general population during the COVID-19 in Italy. Front Psychol. 2020;11:608986. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608986 PMid:33363500 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608986

Savage MJ, James R, Magistro D, Donaldson J, Healy LC, Nevill M, et al. Mental health and movement behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in UK university students: Prospective cohort study. Ment Health Phys Act. 2020;19:100357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2020.100357 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2020.100357

Ferdous MZ, Islam MS, Sikder MT, Mosaddek ASM, Zegarra-Valdivia JA, Gozal D. Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh: An online-based cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2020;15(10):e0239254. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239254 PMid:33035219 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239254

Sifat RI. COVID-19 pandemic: Mental stress, depression, anxiety among the university students in Bangladesh. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2021;67(5):609-10. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0020764020965995 PMid:33040666 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020965995

Islam MA, Barna SD, Raihan H, Khan MN, Hossain MT. Depression and anxiety among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: A web-based crosssectional survey. PLoS One. 2020;15(8):e0238162. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238162 PMid:32845928 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238162

Islam MS, Ferdous MZ, Potenza MN. Panic and generalized anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic among Bangladeshi people: An online pilot survey early in the outbreak. J Affect Disord. 2020;276:30-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.049 PMid:32697713 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.049

Safa F, Anjum A, Hossain S, Trisa TI, Alam SF, Rafi MA, et al. Immediate psychological responses during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic among Bangladeshi medical students. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2021;122:105912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105912 PMid:33390637 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105912

Faisal RA, Jobe MC, Ahmed O, Sharker T. Mental health status, anxiety, and depression levels of Bangladeshi University students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Ment Health Addict. 2021;1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11469-020-00458-y PMid:33424514

Rodríguez-Hidalgo AJ, Pantaleón Y, Dios I, Falla D. Fear of COVID-19, stress, and anxiety in university undergraduate students: A predictive model for depression. Front Psychol. 2020;11:591797. https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2020.591797 PMid:33224080 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.591797

Shovo TE, Ahammed B, Khan B, Jahan N, Shohel TA, Hossain T, et al. Determinants of generalized anxiety, depression, and subjective sleep quality among university students during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. Sulaiman Al Habib Med J. 2021;3(1):27-35. https://doi.org/10.2991/dsahmj.k.210108.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/dsahmj.k.210108.001

Bhuiyan AK, Sakib N, Pakpour AH, Griffiths MD, Mamun MA. COVID-19-related suicides in Bangladesh due to lockdown and economic factors: Case study evidence from media reports. Int J Ment Health Addict. 2020;19:1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00307-y PMid:32427168 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00307-y

Mamun MA, Griffiths MD. A rare case of Bangladeshi student suicide by gunshot due to unusual multiple causalities. Asian J Psychiatr. 2020;49:101951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.101951 PMid:32078949 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.101951

World Health Organization. COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Update. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020.

World Health Organization. Routine Immunization in Bangladesh set to Get Back on Track Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic and Massive Flooding. Genva: World Health Organization; 2020.

Islam A. Why Bangladeshis no longer fear the coronavirus. Germany: Deutsche Welle (DW); 2020.

Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB, Lowe B. The patient health questionnaire somatic, anxiety, and depressive symptom scales: A systematic review. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2010;32(4):345-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2010.03.006 PMid:20633738 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2010.03.006

Rahman M, Hamiduzzaman M, Akter M, Farhana Z, Hossain M, Hasan M, et al. Frailty indexed classification of Bangladeshi older adults’ physio-psychosocial health and associated risk factors-a cross-sectional survey study. BMC Geriatr. 2021;21(1):3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01970-5 PMid:33402094 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01970-5

Paul GK, Rahman MM, Hamiduzzaman M, Farhana Z, Mondal SK, Akter S, et al. Hypertension and its physio-psychosocial risks factors in elderly people: A cross-sectional study in North-Eastern region of Bangladesh. J Geriatr Cardiol. 2021;18(1):75-82. https://doi.org/10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2021.01.011 PMid:33613661

Rahman M, Begum M, Uddin M, Rahman M. Factors affecting health status of urban aged population: Evidence from sylhet, Bangladesh. Indian J Gerontol. 2018;32(1):103-18.

GardaWorld. Bangladesh: Government Extends Nationwide Lockdown Until. Bangladesh: GardaWorld; 2020.

Dhaka Tribune. Bangladesh to go Into Week-Long Hard Lockdown from April 14. Dhaka Tribune; 2021.

Shamsuddin K, Fadzil F, Ismail WS, Shah SA, Omar K, Muhammad NA, et al. Correlates of depression, anxiety and stress among Malaysian University students. Asian J Psychiatr. 2013;6(4):318-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2013.01.014 PMid:23810140 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2013.01.014

Tribune Report. National University Students Continue Protests Over Deferred Exam. Dhaka Tribune; 2021.

Islam MS, Sujan MS, Tasnim R, Sikder MT, Potenza MN, van Os J. Psychological responses during the COVID-19 outbreak among University students in Bangladesh. PLoS One. 2020;15:e0245083. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245083 PMid:33382862 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245083

Anjum A, Hossain S, Hasan MT, Alin SI, Uddin ME, Sikder MT. Depressive symptom and associated factors among school adolescents of urban, semi-urban and rural areas in Bangladesh: A scenario prior to COVID-19. Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:708909. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.708909 PMid:34650452 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.708909

Lu P, Yang L, Wang C, Xia G, Xiang H, Chen G, et al. Mental health of new undergraduate students before and after COVID-19 in China. Sci Rep. 2021;11:18783. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98140-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98140-3

Al Mamun F, Hosen I, Misti JM, Kaggwa MM, Mamun MA. Mental disorders of bangladeshi students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2021;14:645-54. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S315961 PMid:34104010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S315961

Li Z, Qiu Z. How does family background affect children’s educational achievement? evidence from contemporary China. J Chin Soc. 2018;5:13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40711-018-0083-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40711-018-0083-8

Rizvi F, Qureshi A, Rajput AM, Afzal M. Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress (by DASS scoring system) among medical students in Islamabad, Pakistan. Br J Med Med Res 2015;8(1):69-75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/BJMMR/2015/17193

Kumari R, Langer B, Jandial S, Gupta R, Raina SK, Singh P. Psycho-social health problems: Prevalence and associated factors among students of professional colleges in Jammu. Indian J Community Health. 2019;31(1):43-9.

Lun KW, Chan CK, Ip PK, Ma SY, Tsai WW, Wong CS, et al. Depression and anxiety among university students in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Med J. 2018;24(5):466-72. https://doi.org/10.12809/hkmj176915 PMid:30245480 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12809/hkmj176915

Kulsoom B, Afsar NA. Stress, anxiety, and depression among medical students in a multiethnic setting. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2015;11:1713-22. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S83577 PMid:26213470 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S83577

Bayram N, Bilgel N. The prevalence and socio-demographic correlations of depression, anxiety and stress among a group of university students. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2008;43(8):667-72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0345-x PMid:18398558 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0345-x

Abdallah AR, Gabr HM. Depression, anxiety and stress among first year medical students in an Egyptian public university. Int Res J Med Med Sci. 2014;2(1):11-9.

Lovell GP, Nash K, Sharman R, Lane BR. A cross-sectional investigation of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms and health-behavior participation in Australian university students. Nursing Health Sci. 2015;17(1):134-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12147

Beiter R, Nash R, McCrady M, Rhoades D, Linscomb M, Clarahan M, et al. The prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of college students. J Affect Disord. 2015;173:90-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.10.054 PMid:25462401 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.10.054

Marzo RR, Vinay V, Bahari R, Chauhan S, Ming DA, Fernandez SF, et al. Depression and anxiety in Malaysian population during third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clin Epidemiol Glob Health. 2021;12:100868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100868 PMid:34549098 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100868