Meta-Analysis of Anxiety Symptoms and Influencing Factors Among Chinese College Students

To explore the influencing factors on anxiety symptoms among Chinese college students and provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of mental disorders in this population.

The PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and VIP databases were searched electronically for published studies on anxiety symptoms among Chinese college students. A meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software after extracting the relevant data. A random-effects meta-analysis was applied.

Twenty articles were included, with a total sample size of 34,672 participants and a detection rate of 23.46% for anxiety symptoms. The results revealed that graduation status (I²=84%, odds ratio [OR]=1.52, p=0.020), professional satisfaction (I²=0%, OR=0.55, p<0.001), only-child status (I²=0%, OR=1.25, p=0.007), family structure (I²=63%, OR=2.41, p<0.001), left-behind experience (I²=80%, OR=2.05, p<0.001), personality characteristics (I²=29%, OR=1.45, p<0.001), and drinking habits (I²=0%, OR=2.05, p=0.040) were substantial influencing factors in college students' anxiety. Substantial between-study heterogeneity was observed for several factors (e.g., graduation status, I²=84%), suggesting contextual differences across campuses. Accordingly, we interpreted the pooled effects alongside heterogeneity metrics and sensitivity analyses to aid readability.

Chinese college students exhibit a high detection rate of anxiety symptoms. Students nearing graduation, those dissatisfied with their major, only children, those from incomplete family structures, and those with left-behind experience, introverted personalities or drinking habits may be more prone to developing anxiety symptoms.