Sociodemographic and Academic Burden Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depression Among Final-Year Health Sciences Undergraduates in Malaysia

Introduction: Academic burden is a situation where students feel overwhelmed by the requirements of time and energy to attain certain academic goals, which can potentially contribute to mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. This study aims to assess the level of anxiety and depression and its associated factors with anxiety and depression among final-year health sciences undergraduates in Malaysia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a public a university in Malaysia. Mental disorders in this study, which refer to anxiety and depression were measured using the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The Perceptions of Academic Stress (PAS) scale was used to measure academic burden. Results: Findings revealed that 42.9% of final-year health sciences undergraduates experienced minimal anxiety and 32.8% experienced mild depression. Time constraints and study program were significantly associated with anxiety and depression, while pressures to perform were significantly associated with depression. Conclusion: The majority of final-year health sciences undergraduates have a minimal and mild level of anxiety and depression and it’s associated with time constraints, study program and pressures to perform. Therefore, university authorities need to enhance and improve mental disorders of final-year health sciences undergraduates.