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The Relationship between Anxiety, Visual Function, and Symptomatology in University Students
Sonia Ortiz-Peregrina1, Carolina Ortiz1, Miriam Casares-López1
1Laboratory of Vision Sciences and Applications, Department of Optics, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|October 28, 2023
Summary
University students experiencing anxiety showed poorer visual performance and more visual discomfort. This highlights the link between mental health and vision in higher education.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Mental health issues are prevalent among university students.
- Student well-being is increasingly impacted by psychological factors.
- The relationship between anxiety and visual function requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of anxiety in university students.
- To assess the impact of anxiety on visual function and symptomatology.
- To explore the association between anxiety levels and visual discomfort.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 41 university students.
- Visual function assessed using a visual performance index (VPI).
- Visual symptomatology evaluated via Conlon Visual Discomfort Survey and Quality of Vision (QoV) questionnaire.
- Students categorized based on Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) scores.
Main Results:
- The anxiety group exhibited significantly worse VPI (p=0.047).
- Students with anxiety reported higher scores on the Conlon survey (p=0.004) and QoV subscales for symptom severity (p=0.041) and bothersomeness (p=0.013).
- A significant association was found between visual discomfort and anxiety levels (r=0.405, p=0.012).
Conclusions:
- Anxiety significantly affects university students' visual function and comfort.
- Psychological factors, including anxiety, play a crucial role in visual disorders beyond refractive errors.
- Further research into the influence of psychological factors on vision is warranted.
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