Prevalence and Severity of Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Among Optometry Students in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: To assess the prevalence and severity of anxiety, depression, and stress among optometry students in Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional, online survey was administered among optometry students across Nigerian universities between 16 April and 18 November 2024. The mental health state was evaluated utilizing the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Data collected included demographic information such as age, gender, year of study, and DASS-21 scores. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence and severity of anxiety, depression, and stress. Binary logistic regression models were employed to identify associations between mental health outcomes and demographics. Differences were statistically significant at a level of 5%. Ethics was obtained prior to data collection. Results: Four hundred and seventy-four students from 11 universities participated in this study, aged 17 to 42 years (mean ± SD: 23 ± 3 years). Most participants were females (n=259, 54.6%), not-married (n=446, 94.1%), Christians (n=297, 62.7%), and had no children (n=451, 95.1%). About half of the respondents (51.1%, n=242) experienced major depression (i.e. severe or extremely severe: n=69, 14.6%), 61.8% (n=293) experienced severe anxiety (n=173, 36.5%). Overall, 25.1% (n=119) of participants experienced all three conditions (mental distress), while 49.2% (n=233) experienced at least two of these conditions. Binary logistic regression revealed that female optometry students were 1.66 times [95%CI: 1.15 – 2.39] more likely to report depression, and 1.58 times [95%CI: 1.03 – 2.43] more likely to experience mental distress compared with their male counterparts. Conclusion: This study reveals a high prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among optometry students in Nigeria, with over half experiencing major depression and more than a third facing severe anxiety. Notably, one in four students reported concurrent symptoms of all three mental health conditions. Female students were significantly more likely to experience depression and overall mental distress, highlighting a gender-related vulnerability. There is an urgent need for targeted mental health interventions within optometry training programs. Universities should establish structured mental health support services, integrate wellness education into the curriculum, and implement gender-sensitive approaches to mental health promotion to safeguard the well-being and academic success of optometry students in Nigeria.