Factors associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress post-COVID-19, in university students: a cross-sectional study, Minas Gerais, 2023-2024

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence and factors associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in Minas Gerais after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with students from four federal universities in Minas Gerais. Data collection was carried out online. To identify associated factors, a structured questionnaire was administered, encompassing sociodemographic, clinical, and academic variables, as well as the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). To determine the risk and protective factors associated with the investigated symptoms, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, with a 5% significance level. RESULTS: A total of 2,333 students participated in the study, comprising 75.6% (n=1,764) females and 24.4% (n=569) males, aged 18 to 62 years. The prevalence of symptoms was 77.2% (n=1,802) for depression, 76.8% (n=1,790) for anxiety, and 77.3% (n=1,803) for stress. Identified risk factors for all three outcomes were female sex (p-value