Comparison of depression and anxiety levels among students: An observational study in Dhaka City
Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare differences in depression and anxiety levels among college students by type of college, gender, socioeconomic status, sleeping time, and health status.
Research methodology: For the purpose of this study, three (3) public and three (3) private colleges were selected from the colleges of the National University in Dhaka city by applying the purposive sampling method. In total, 192 respondents were selected using simple random sampling. Subsequently, survey data were analyzed using means, standard deviations, percentages, frequencies, and a simple linear regression model.
Results: The mean scores for Depression, Anxiety according to college type (government versus non-government) were , statistically different. At the depression level, Government and Non-government College students were both minimally depressed, but at the anxiety level, government and non-government college students were mild (37.69) and severe (46.13), respectively. In the regression model, this study found statistically significant differences in depression and anxiety by college type and gender.
Limitations: The main limitation of this study was that the number of participants was small, which in many cases may not represent the entire population. Second, the participants had difficulty understanding the scale used in the depression and anxiety questionnaire.
Contribution: The results of the current study will help Bangladeshi psychological society, various universities, research institutes, and government policymakers formulate strategies for mental health.
Novelty: The method applied and the results obtained in this study will open up new horizons of ideas instead of long-standing conventional ideas for studying the depression and anxiety of students studying at the National University of Bangladesh.