Prevalence and Determinants of Mental Health Problems among Vietnamese Undergraduate Students across Academic Disciplines

Mental health issues have gained increased attention globally in recent years, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study estimated the prevalence of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and stress, and identified the determinants associated with the levels of mental health problems among Vietnamese undergraduate students across various academic disciplines.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at three educational institutions in southern Vietnam. A structured questionnaire including questions about personal characteristics, family background, academic-related aspects, and the 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used to assess self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate students. Linear regression models were used to identify the factors associated with the DASS-21 scores among undergraduate students.

Of the 572 participants, 191 (33.4%) experienced depression, 271 (47.4%) reported anxiety, and 162 (28.3%) suffered from stress. Significant heterogeneity in depression, anxiety, and stress was observed among undergraduates within the same academic disciplines, with all intracluster correlation coefficients (ICCs) ≤0.053. Increased risks of mental health issues were linked to a lack of regular exercise (β = 2.15, P = .037, ref: frequently doing exercise), dissatisfaction with family affection (β = 8.42, P = .023, ref: satisfaction with family relationship), financial control from family (β = 8.00, P < .001, ref: without financial control), dissatisfaction with academic mentorship (β =16.08, P < .001, ref: satisfaction with mentorship), and personal studying performance pressure (β = 4.33, P = .018, ref: without personal studying performance pressure).

The study findings provided important insights into the high prevalence and key determinants of mental health symptoms among undergraduate students, which may inform the design of future interventions and support programs in Vietnam.