Prevalence and factors associated with generalized anxiety disorder symptoms among Makerere University Undergraduate students

Abstract

Background: University students represent a special group of people going through a critical period of transition from adolescence to adulthood. Through this transition, students face new challenges, such as making independent decisions about their lives and studies, adjusting to the academic demands of a new learning environment, and interacting with a diverse range of new people. The COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding its transmission caused considerable anxiety and fear around the world. Additionally, social distancing, quarantine and lockdown measures to control the spread of the virus caused disruptions to education. These disruptions had multifaceted implications with a sharp rise of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, stress, sleep disorders and substance use, particularly amongst university students. Despite the fact that there is a high burden of generalized anxiety disorder in the general population, little has been done to examine its prevalence and associated factors among university students during the covid lockdown in Uganda. Objective: To determine the prevalence of and factors associated with generalized anxiety disorder symptoms among Makerere university undergraduate students. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in 883 undergraduate students from the 10 colleges of Makerere University who were recruited via proportionate sampling. Questionnaires were administered via an online software after the potential participant provided written informed consent. GAD symptoms were assessed using the GAD-7 screening instrument. Independent variables were assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) for perceived social support, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise (AUDIT-C) for alcohol use disorder and Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) for drug use disorders. Frequencies and means were used to describe the sample characteristics. Chi square test and Fisher’s exact test were used at bivariate analysis while multiple logistic regression was used at multivariate analysis to determine which factors were independently associated with GAD. Results: The prevalence of GAD symptoms was 41.8%. Factors independently associated with increased GAD-7 score were; Female gender, being religious and having had severe covid-19 symptoms. Factors associated with a decrease in GAD -7 score were: age, poor social support and financial support. Social and psychological factors significantly predicted

GAD scores while biological factors did not have a significant contribution to an increase or decrease in GAD-7 score. Conclusion: This study highlights that social and psychological factors were significantly associated with GAD symptoms among Makerere University students. Recommendation: We recommend all stakeholders in universities and higher learning institutions to place greater emphasis on mental health promotion and awareness among the students