Anxiety and depression among Greek undergraduate students in the University of Patras

Background There is an increase in the prevalence of depression and anxiety in university students, reducing their capability of taking care themselves and coping with daily life’s demands. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of and investigate risk factors for anxiety and depression in undergraduate students at the University of Patras, Greece. Methods An analytical cross‐sectional study was conducted on a representative sample of 1.233 (553 male and 680 female) undergraduate university students. The instrument used to assess the anxiety and depression levels was the in Greek translated and validated Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS v. 17.0. Results Anxiety was present in 423 (34.2%, 20.3% borderline and 13.9% clinical) students and depression in 215 (17.4%, 12.7% borderline and 4.7% clinical) students. Both were found concomitantly in 152 (12.3%) students. Higher age (p=0.014), female gender (p<0.001), higher year of study (p<0.001), school and city being not the first choice (p<0.001), reduction in income (p<0.001) and ignorance of support services available to students were significantly associated with anxiety. Depression was significantly associated with higher age and year of study (p<0.001), school and city being not the first choice (p<0.001), growing up with one parent (p<0.001), having more than three siblings (p<0.001), reduction in income (p