Abstract: Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) pandemic is a public health emergency and constitutes a
challenge to psychological health. This study aimed to assess the
psychological conditions among university students in Saudi Arabia
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Material and Methods: During the period between the
4th and 18th of June 2020, the
students at Umm AlQura University in Saudi Arabia were invited to
complete an online survey. The survey assessed their sociodemographic
characteristics, educational disciplines, and manifestations of
depression, anxiety, and stress as determined by the Depression Anxiety
Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21).
Results: The study included 936 students. Of them, 41.1% had
depressive symptoms (31.7% mild to moderate and 9.4% severe to very
severe), 26.9% had anxiety symptoms (15.8% mild to moderate and 11.1%
severe to very severe), and 22.4% had stress symptoms (15.2% mild to
moderate and 7.2% severe to very severe). Students who reported having
a friend or relative infected with or died from COVID-19, watching or
reading news about the pandemic ≥2 hours/day, and not having emotional
support from family, university, and society were more likely to show
psychological problems.
Conclusion: Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were
common among Saudi university students. Psychological counseling and
support should be provided to university students in Saudi Arabia.
Keywords: Depression; Anxiety; Stress; COVID-19; University
students; Saudi Arabia
What’s known? (what is
already known about this subject?)
COVID pandemic has many psychological implications that affected people
and communities variously.