IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v22y2025i9p1445-d1752641.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Anxiety and Depression Among University Students in Cali, Colombia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Prevalence and Contributing Factors

Author

Listed:
  • Florencio Arias-Coronel

    (Faculty of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760035, Colombia
    Grupo de Investigación Salud Integral (GISI), Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760035, Colombia)

  • Carlos Andres Garibello-Millan

    (Faculty of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760035, Colombia)

  • Diana María Dávila-Vidal

    (Faculty of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760035, Colombia)

  • María Fernanda Serna-Orozco

    (Faculty of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760035, Colombia
    Grupo de Investigación en Biomateriales y Biotecnología (BEO), Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760035, Colombia)

  • Mauricio Solórzano-Alarcón

    (Faculty of Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760035, Colombia
    Grupo de Investigación Salud Integral (GISI), Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760035, Colombia)

Abstract

Depression and anxiety are mental health conditions that can significantly impact individuals’ well-being, with various risk factors contributing to their severity. This study aimed to characterise the prevalence of anxiety and depression among a university population and examine the associated sociodemographic factors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 394 students from a higher education institution. Sociodemographic factors were analysed using two validated instruments: the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and the PHQ-9 (Depression Symptom Test). The statistical analyses included Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test to assess associations. Results: The mental health outcomes were significantly influenced by several factors. Key variables associated with anxiety and depression included academic overload (* p < 0.001), gender (* p < 0.001), father’s education level (* p < 0.001), socioeconomic status (* p < 0.001), and sexual orientation (* p < 0.001). These findings highlight the complex interplay between sociodemographic factors and mental health in university students. Conclusions: Early identification and interventions for anxiety and depression should be considered to provide timely and relevant mental health programmes for university students.

Suggested Citation

  • Florencio Arias-Coronel & Carlos Andres Garibello-Millan & Diana María Dávila-Vidal & María Fernanda Serna-Orozco & Mauricio Solórzano-Alarcón, 2025. "Anxiety and Depression Among University Students in Cali, Colombia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Prevalence and Contributing Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(9), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:9:p:1445-:d:1752641
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/9/1445/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/9/1445/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Muhammad Faris Fauzi & Tengku Shahrul Anuar & Lay Kek Teh & Wai Feng Lim & Richard Johari James & Rohana Ahmad & Mawarni Mohamed & Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar & Farida Zuraina Mohd Yusof & Mohd Zaki Salleh, 2021. "Stress, Anxiety and Depression among a Cohort of Health Sciences Undergraduate Students: The Prevalence and Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Jorge L. Piscoya-Tenorio & Walter V. Heredia-Rioja & Noelia Morocho-Alburqueque & Sandra Zeña-Ñañez & Palmer J. Hernández-Yépez & Cristian Díaz-Vélez & Virgilo E. Failoc-Rojas & Mario J. Valladares-Ga, 2023. "Prevalence and Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depression in Peruvian Medical Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-9, February.
    3. Telmo Raul Aveiro-Róbalo & Luciana Daniela Garlisi-Torales & Marisella Chumán-Sánchez & César J. Pereira-Victorio & Mariana Huaman-Garcia & Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas & Mario J. Valladares-Garrido, 2022. "Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in University Students in Paraguay during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Marilú Farfán-Latorre & Edwin Gustavo Estrada-Araoz & Willian Gerardo Lavilla-Condori & Nelly Jacqueline Ulloa-Gallardo & Dominga Asunción Calcina-Álvarez & Llen Alin Meza-Orue & Luis Iván Yancachajll, 2023. "Mental Health in the Post-Pandemic Period: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Peruvian University Students upon Return to Face-to-Face Classes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-13, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Izyan A. Wahab & Khang Wen Goh & Zainol Akbar Zainal & Najlaa Siham Mohamed Yusof & Hasniza Zaman Huri & Sabrina Anne Jacob & Muhammad Najib Mohamad Alwi & Rosnani Hashim & Shairyzah Ahmad Hisham & Nu, 2022. "Targeted Primary and Secondary Preventive Strategies for Depression among Malaysian Pharmacy Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Veljko Kolak & Maja Pavlovic & Ema Aleksic & Vladimir Biocanin & Milica Gajic & Ana Nikitovic & Marija Lalovic & Irena Melih & Dragana Pesic, 2022. "Probable Bruxism and Psychological Issues among Dental Students in Serbia during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.
    3. Jorge L. Piscoya-Tenorio & Walter V. Heredia-Rioja & Noelia Morocho-Alburqueque & Sandra Zeña-Ñañez & Palmer J. Hernández-Yépez & Cristian Díaz-Vélez & Virgilo E. Failoc-Rojas & Mario J. Valladares-Ga, 2023. "Prevalence and Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depression in Peruvian Medical Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-9, February.
    4. Ola K. Taleb & Abdullah Sarimah & Ab Hamid Siti-Azrin & Kamarul Aryffin Baharuddin & Ali H. Abusafia, 2023. "Structural Relationships between Environmental Factors, Psychological Health, and Academic Performance in Medical Students Engaged in Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-14, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:9:p:1445-:d:1752641. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.