Page 96 - GHES-3-2

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Student anxiety/stress/depression

2. Methods 2.4. Research process

2.1. Research design The free MS Forms online platform was utilized to
collect the data. The questionnaire was available through
Quantitative cross-sectional research was conducted to the college email to students attending the Scientific
determine the anxiety, stress, or depression effects exerted College of Greece (SCG) and to other college students
during examination periods on college students parenting via miscellaneous research-oriented internet forums.
minor children in comparison to students who did not have A consent form containing due information and seeking
children. Therefore, two levels of variables were considered: assent for participation in the study was sent to potential
the independent variable was having children, and the participants before the aforementioned data collection
dependent variable was anxiety, stress, or depression levels tools were administered. Participants were first asked
sensed by students during examination periods.
to read the provided information and consent to their
2.2. Participants and sample participation in the study. Then, they were granted
access to the questionnaires. Subsequently, they received
Convenience sampling was utilized for this study, which a debriefing form after they had completed the survey.
surveyed a total of 94 participants: 71 women (75.6%) and The confidentiality and anonymity of all participants
23 men (24.4%). Of the total sample, 62 participants did were ensured by inserting a five-digit alphanumeric
not have children (65.9%) and 32 (34.1%) were parents. code at the beginning of the form to recall their data if
The average age of the participants was 34 years. The study required. Notably, the participants were not deceived in
was conducted with students enrolled in higher education any manner. The study was approved by the Research,
institutions, aged above 18 years, and proficient in Greek. Ethics, and Conduct Committee of the SCG under number
People who were not students and were not in the stipulated TER2021-129.
age range were excluded from the study.
2.5. Data analyses
2.3. Materials and tools
Initially, the distribution of anxiety, stress, and depression
The administered questionnaire comprised a scores was checked using the Shapiro–Wilk test. The
sociodemographic section, the questionnaire appended in results were not normal (p < 0.001); thus, nonparametric
Annexure A, and a few queries about the ways in which the tests were employed. All samples were independent and
participants perceived their mental state. The Depression, the asymmetry of the values was considered positive.
Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) (Datanalysis,
2021) weighted in Greek by Lyrakos et al. (2011) was Subsequently, a Mann–Whitney U test was performed
used to collect the required information. P. F. Lovibond to compare the levels of anxiety, stress, and depression
and S. H. Lovibond constructed this instrument in 1993 between students with and without children. Another
as a set of three self-reporting scales designed to measure Mann–Whitney U test was performed to discover
negative emotional states such as depression, anxiety, and further associations and compare levels of anxiety, stress,
stress (Data analysis, 2021). The DASS-21 questionnaire and depression between women and men and between
is available for public use without special licensing. The employed and non-employed participants. In addition,
internal consistency reliability of all the propositions of Kruskal–Wallis tests were performed to detect whether
the scale is Cronbach’s a = 0.965 (Data analysis, 2021). The statistically significant differences existed between the
scale also exhibits good content and construct validity. levels of anxiety, stress, and depression by age group, marital
A sociodemographic questionnaire was also administered status, sources of stress from educational institutions, and
to apprehend the differences and trends pertaining to relaxation activities.
discrete groups of people. Other data were collected for 3. Results
analysis and discussion: for instance, participants were
queried about sources of stress at educational institutions In terms of their ages, 27.7% of the participants were aged
and how they contributed to self-perceived stress, anxiety, 18–25 years, 20.2% were 26–33 years old, 31.9% were
and depression in students. In addition, students were grouped as 34–41 years, 8.5% were 42–49-year-olds, 8.5%
asked about the techniques that helped them handle spanned 50–57 years, and 3.2% were aged 58–65 years
the perceived anxiety, stress, and depression and their (Figure 1). In terms of employment, 31.9% of participants
responses served as springboards for further discussion were unemployed and 68.1% were employed. In terms
that could help devise proposals for students in need. of their marital status, 63.8% of the participants were
Thus, new research on the subject may be initiated from married, cohabiting, or partnered, 30.9% were single, 3.2%
the findings of this study. were divorced, and 2.1% were widowed.

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 88 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.4906