The Prevalence of Anxiety Among University Students in the United Arab Emirates Following the COVID-19 Lockdown.

Autor:	Faris M; College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, ARE., Macky MM; College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, ARE., Badran AH; College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, ARE., Saif M; College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, ARE., Yasser M; College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, ARE., Ibrahim E; College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, ARE., Hussein A; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, ARE.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Cureus [Cureus] 2024 Mar 16; Vol. 16 (3), pp. e56259. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Mar 16 (Print Publication: 2024).
DOI:	10.7759/cureus.56259
Abstrakt:	Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic, with its consequential lifestyle changes, is anticipated to contribute to increased anxiety levels, particularly among university students who already contend with significant academic stress. We aim to assess the prevalence of anxiety among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the COVID-19 lockdown period. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among students enrolled in UAE universities. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized to gather demographic data, assess anxiety levels using the generalized anxiety disorder-7 scale, explore potential factors associated with heightened anxiety, investigate the impact of increased anxiety on academic performance, and identify coping mechanisms employed post-lockdown. Results: Of the 369 participating students, anxiety levels were minimal in 87 (23.6%), mild in 163 (44.2%), and moderate to severe in 119 (32.2%) subjects. Moreover, increased anxiety levels were significantly correlated with poor/fair sleep quality (p=0.002). Importantly, students with moderate to severe anxiety levels exhibited poorer performance in exams and assignments (p=0.001) and encountered difficulties in maintaining focus on studies (p<0.001). The predominant coping mechanisms employed by students included self-distraction, prayer, and maintaining a positive attitude. Conclusion: The majority of students in our study experienced mild to severe levels of anxiety following the COVID-19 lockdown period. We hope that our findings will prompt university and government officials to implement effective screening and preventive strategies to adequately support university students in future public health crises. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. (Copyright © 2024, Faris et al.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
Externí odkaz:	Zobrazit plný text záznamu