Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors for Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia Among University Students in Bangladesh:...

University students face substantial mental-health challenges that impair learning, sleep, and overall quality of life and well-being. This study aimed to assess the mental health status and associated risk factors of students in Bangladesh to prevent mental health disorders and provide better healthcare support.

We conducted a cross-sectional, self-administered survey between September 2023 and February 2024 across ten universities. Standardized tools (GAD-7, PHQ-9, AIS-8) were used to measure anxiety, depressive symptoms, and insomnia. Associations with demographic and health factors were analyzed using binary logistic regression.

In total, 952 undergraduate and postgraduate students from ten universities in Bangladesh participated in the study. The mean age was 22.3 years, with 51% males and 49% females. The prevalence of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and insomnia among the students in Bangladesh was 70.3%, 49.1%, and 61.7%, respectively. Anxiety symptoms were higher in females than males (OR 1.681; 95% CI 1.126-2.509; p = 0.011), higher in married than unmarried students (OR 1.344; p = 0.003), and higher in those with chronic disease (OR 0.332 for no disease vs disease; p = 0.002), while students with siblings had lower odds (OR 0.555; p = 0.045); anxiety also varied by residence area (p = 0.002). Depressive symptoms were more frequent in females (p = 0.038), decreased with higher BMI (OR 0.593; p = 0.029), and was higher in students with chronic disease (OR 0.544 for no disease vs disease; p = 0.012); depressive symptoms also differed by economic status (p = 0.018), residence area (p = 0.007), and number of siblings (p = 0.027). Insomnia was more common in females (OR 1.685; p = 0.038), higher among married students (OR 2.171; p = 0.022), and higher in those without siblings (OR 1.798; p = 0.039). Students with normal-range BMI had lower odds of insomnia compared to those with higher BMI (OR 0.684; p = 0.006). Insomnia was also associated with smoking (p = 0.029), chronic disease (p < 0.001), and parental relationship status (p = 0.032). We also observed positive correlations among anxiety, depressive symptoms, and insomnia symptoms.

The findings reveal that Bangladeshi university students experience alarmingly high rates of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and insomnia, with female, married, and chronically ill students particularly vulnerable. Protective factors such as having siblings and a higher BMI were identified. From a clinical perspective, the results underscore the value of early and regular prescreening in university settings, combined with intervention studies to evaluate preventive and therapeutic strategies. Universities and policymakers should prioritize accessible counseling, awareness campaigns, and early screening programs tailored to the demographic risk groups identified in this study.