Anxiety, Depression and Their Correlates among Human Nutrition and Dietetics Undergraduates at a Rural South African University

Globally, university students often experience substantial anxiety and depressive symptoms, but the mental health profile of human nutrition and dietetics students at rural South African institutions remains poorly described. This study investigated the prevalence, severity and correlates of anxiety and depressive symptoms in this understudied population. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted with 95 undergraduate students in human nutrition and dietetics at a rural South African university. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire covering demographic, academic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics, alongside the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Overall, 44.2 % met the GAD‑7 threshold for probable anxiety, and 48.4 % met the PHQ‑9 threshold for probable depression, while 78.9 % of participants endorsed at least mild symptoms on both measures. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were strongly correlated ( = 0.765, large effect). Female students reported higher GAD‑7 scores than males (10.5 vs 7.1; = 0.64; < 0.001), and younger students (≤21 years) reported higher PHQ‑9 scores than older peers (12.2 vs 8.2; = 0.58; < 0.001). A history of psychiatric illness, chronic conditions, trauma exposure and prior psychological support were associated ( ≤ 0.05) with elevated GAD‑7 and/or PHQ‑9 scores. Nearly half of this rural human nutrition and dietetics cohort met criteria for clinically significant anxiety or depression, with symptoms being more frequently observed among students reporting prior psychiatric history and use of psychological support services, although these associations are cross-sectional and cannot establish directionality. Taken together, the results suggest a need to consider routine mental health screening and tailored, contextually appropriate supports within rural health sciences training environments in South Africa.