Not Just Numbers: Exploring the Inner Landscape of Youth Anxiety and Stress

Anxiety and perceived stress are increasingly prevalent among youth; however, empirical data from Southeast Europe remain limited. This study examines the prevalence, interrelation, and psychological implications of anxiety and perceived stress in youth from North Macedonia, utilizing validated psycho-metric tools. A cross-sectional study included 204 participants aged 15 and older (mostly under 30), recruited from various educational institutions. Participants completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-30) under standardized conditions. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Latent Profile Analysis, k-means clustering, MANOVA, linear regression, and Exploratory Factor Analysis to evaluate symptom patterns and demographic predictors. Additionally, machine learning models (logistic regression and random forest) were employed to predict subgroup membership. High levels of perceived stress and anxiety were observed, with significant gender- and age-related differences. Correlation analyses demonstrated a strong positive association between PSQ-30 and BAI scores. The Pearson correlation coefficient was r = 0.66, confirming the statistical strength of this association. Factor analysis revealed multiple latent dimensions of anxiety, while cluster analysis identified distinct psychological profiles. These findings underscore the co-occurrence and interplay of anxiety and perceived stress in Macedonian youth, emphasizing the need for targeted mental health interventions and region-specific policy development.