Stress, Depression, and Anxiety among Young Adults

During COVID-19 Pandemic

C Lalnunpuii, Lalfakawmi Khiangte and Chunduri Vaishnavi

Supervised by
Ms. Amulya Kocherlakota

Department of Psychology
St. Francis College For Women
Begumpet, Hyderabad – 500016

Autonomous and Affiliated to Osmania University

College with Potential for Excellence (UGC)

2022
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this bonafide project work titled Stress, Depression and
Anxiety and among Young Adults (18-28 years) During COVID-19
Pandemic, has been carried out by C Lalnunpuii, Lalfakawmi Khiangte and
Chunduri Vaishnavi bearing Roll No: 121319004003, 121319007013 and
121319004004 respectively towards partial fulfilment of the requirements for the
award of Degree of Bachelor’s in Arts from St. Francis College for Women,
Begumpet in the academic year 2021 - 2022.
 Declaration

Date : 1/4/2022

This is to certify that we, C Lalnunpuii, Lalfakawmi Khiangte and Chunduri Vaishnavi

have carried out the research, embodied in the present Project for the full period prescribed by St.

Francis College for Women, Department of Psychology.

We declare to the best of our knowledge that this Project is an original work and had not

been submitted previously to this or any other Institution.

Students:

C Lalnunpuii

121319004003

Lalfakawmi Khiangte

121319007013

Chunduri Vaishnavi

121319004004
 Acknowledgement

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our supervisor Asst.Prof. Ms.Amulya

Kocherlakota from the department of Psychology, for guiding and mentoring us with her

constructive and valuable suggestions throughout this research.

We would also like to express a heartfelt gratitude to all of our families for their unending

support throughout this study.

Finally, we would like to thank each and every participant who joined this research and

gave their valuable time.

(C Lalnunpuii)

(Lalfakawmi Khiangte)

(Chunduri Vaishnavi)
 Table of Contents

Sl No. Title Page No.

1 Abstract 1

2 Introduction 2 - 14

● Research Questions

● Objectives

● Hypothesis

3 Method 15 - 27

4 Results 28 - 30

5 Discussion 31 - 33

6 References 34 - 39

7. Appendices 40 - 45
 List of Tables

Sl No. Title Page No.

1 Correlation between Stress, Depression and Anxiety among young 28

adults

2 Correlation between Depression and Anxiety among young adults 29

3 Mean, Standard Deviation, and t-test ratios of Stress, Depression, 30

and Anxiety on the basis of the gender of the sample.

 List of Figures

Sl No. Title Page No

1 Percentage of sample distribution based on Gender 15

2 Frequency of sample distribution based on Age 16

3 Frequency of sample distribution based on State 17

4 Frequency of sample distribution based on Occupation 18

5 Frequency of sample distribution based on the Family type 19

6 Frequency of sample distribution based on “Are you seeking 20

professional help?”

7 Frequency of sample distribution based on “Average time you 21

spend online in a day for classes/work?”

8 Frequency of sample distribution based on “Average time you 22

spend online in a day for recreation? (Social media)”

9 Frequency of sample distribution based on “How updated are you 23

with the news?”

10 Frequency of sample distribution based on average sleep time 24

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 1

Abstract

Stress is defined as a particular relationship between the person and the environment that is

appraised by the person as taxing or exceeding his or her resources and endangering his or her

well-being (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Depression is a mood disorder characterised by

dysphoria (Susan Krauss Whitbourne & Halgin, 2014) and loss of interest. The American

Psychological Association (APA) defines anxiety as “an emotion characterised by feelings of

tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure”. The present study

examined the gender difference in the levels of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among young

adults. A sample of 45 men and 45 women of the age group 18-28 years were selected through

purposive sampling and studied. The correlation between the levels of depression, anxiety, and

stress in the sample was also studied. The data was collected within India, using the Depression

Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 developed by Lovibond, S.H. & Lovibond, P.F. (1995). The results

of the present study show that there is a significant positive correlation between Depression,

Anxiety, and Stress and that there is no significant gender difference in the levels of depression,

anxiety, and stress among young adults. The present study gives us insights into the

psychological well-being of young adults during the Covid-19 pandemic which is helpful in

providing the necessary help and intervention.

Keywords: Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Gender Difference, Correlation, Young Adults

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 2

Introduction

The NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2020 (COVID 19) was declared a pandemic by WHO on

11 March,2020 (WHO, 2022). According to WHO, COVID 19 is an infectious disease caused by

SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2).The virus was initially

discovered in Wuhan city, China and later spread across the world claiming the lives of millions.

The symptoms of the virus ranged from the most common symptoms like fever, cough, tiredness,

loss of taste and smell to serious symptoms like shortness of breath and chest pain. The

transmission of the virus was through the liquid droplets from the nose and mouth of the infected

person when they cough, talk, sneeze, etc. (WHO, 2022). As such the preventive measures

against the transmission of the virus included social distancing, wearing masks, sanitising your

hands, following proper respiratory etiquette and hygiene like coughing into a fixed elbow, and

quarantining yourself in case you are unwell and have any symptoms (WHO, 2022). Various

countries across the world initiated lockdowns in order to prevent the rapid transmission of the

virus. India declared a 14 hour Janata curfew in March 2020 which was later extended to the

initiation of lockdown all over the country through various phases ( Aritra et al., 2020). Several

restrictions were imposed during the lockdown like the shutdown of educational institutions,

industrial establishments, malls, theatres, etc, suspension of public transportation services, and

access to grocery stores and pharmacies was limited to certain timings during the day, in order to

encourage the public to stay home and stay safe.

The restrictions imposed due to the fear of transmission led to changes in the social life of

the individual. Also, infected individuals having to quarantine themselves (the strategy of

keeping away people who have come in close contact with someone with COVID 19 in order to
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 3

prevent the transmission of the virus), has taken a toll on their mental health.

Findings from a review study revealed a relationship between longer durations of

quarantine and poorer psychological well-being (Brooks et al., 2020) , there was also a reduction

in the symptoms of anxiety (7% to 3%) and feelings of anger (17%-6%) a few months after the

quarantine period compared from the time when they were quarantined (Brooks et al., 2020).

Avoidance behaviours like minimal contact with patients were positively associated with health

care workers post quarantine (Brooks et al., 2020). Various studies conducted during the

outbreak of the covid 19 pandemic have also indicated that the prevalence of depression, anxiety,

post-traumatic stress, insomnia, and psychological distress was significantly higher in the general

population during the pandemic(Cénat et al., 2021). COVID-affected populations were

associated with higher levels of psychological distress and insomnia in comparison to the general

population(Cénat et al., 2021).From previous studies, one can conclude that the strategic

measures taken by the government like lockdown and quarantining individuals as preventive

measures during the coronavirus pandemic have had an impact on the psychological health of the

population due to various stressors like the uncertain durations of lockdown, inadequate

resources(food, water, medical supplies etc), fear of infection, inadequate information from

public authorities etc.(Brooks et al., 2020).

A recent survey conducted by the Indian Psychiatry Society indicates a 20% rise in

patients suffering from mental illness(Verma & Mishra, 2020). A recent survey study of the

general public in China showed that 8.1% reported moderate to severe stress levels (Wang et al.,

2020). This translates to about 112 million people living in China. Similarly, a nationwide survey

among Italians reported 27.2% (~16.2 million people) experienced high to extremely high-stress
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 4

levels during the pandemic (Mazza et al., 2020) Thus, understanding ways to manage stress is

critical, particularly during a pandemic.(Wang et al., 2020)

In general, stress has been discussed as a crucial factor in etiological diathesis-stress

models of mental disorders.In recent years, the prevalence of stress-related mental disorders has

been following an upward trend,causing both individual burden and financial and social

problems for society as a whole.Hence, it has the potential to cause a public mental health crisis

of unprecedented dimensions(Pfeifer et al., 2021)

Lazarus and Folkman defined stress as a particular relationship between the person and

the environment that is appraised by the person as taxing or exceeding his or her resources and

endangering his or her well-being(Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Stress is often defined as a state in

which external demands exceed internal resources, causing the organism to initiate a

neuroendocrine stress response(Lazarus, 1993). According to the American Psychological

Association, the three types of stress — acute stress, episodic acute stress, and chronic stress —

can all make us feel out of sorts or even ill, but chronic stress is often ignored.(Ehrenfeld, 2018)

Acute stress happens to everyone. It’s the body’s immediate reaction to a new and

challenging situation.These incidents of acute stress don’t normally do you any harm. They

might even be good for you.Once the danger passes, your body systems should return to normal.

Severe acute stress is a different story. This kind of stress, such as when you’ve faced a

life-threatening situation, can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) or other mental health

problems. Episodic acute stress is when you have frequent episodes of acute stress.As with

severe acute stress, episodic acute stress can affect your physical health and mental well-being.
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 5

When you have high-stress levels for an extended period of time, you have chronic stress.

Long-term stress like this can have a negative impact on your health. It may contribute to:

Anxiety , Cardiovascular disease, Depression, High blood pressure and a weakened immune

system. Chronic stress can also lead to frequent ailments such as headaches, an upset stomach,

and sleep difficulties. Gaining insights into the different types of stress and how to recognize

them may help.(Healthline Editorial Team, 2018)

Psychologists who study stress or perform therapy to help people manage it assume that

the amount of stress a person experiences increases with stressor frequency, intensity, and

duration (Sarafino & Ewing, 1999). Evidence supports this assumption. Research has shown that

stronger stressors produce greater physiological strain (Steptoe, Cropley, & Joekes, 2000). Many

people experience chronic stress—that is, it occurs often or lasts a long time, such as when many

stressors happen or thoughts about a trauma recur often over time (Dougall & Baum, 2001).

Chronic stress makes people more susceptible to catching cold when exposed to infection than

occasional stress (Sarafino & Smith, 2012).

A study conducted among the Chinese population on the prevalence and risk factors of

post-traumatic stress symptoms among depressed and non-depressed individuals, concluded that

the patients with depression are 16 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress

symptoms than those without depression (Peng et al., 2022).A global study conducted during the

pandemic revealed that higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression were reported by younger

age groups when compared to older age groups(Varma et al., 2020). Loneliness, poor sleep

quality, and resilient coping mediated the relationship between stress and depression(Varma et

al., 2020).According to WHO, 5% of the adults and 3.8% of the world population suffer from
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 6

depression and the disorder contributes greatly to the overall burden of disease. Dysphoria or

unusually elevated sad mood is an essential feature of depressive disorder(Susan Krauss

Whitbourne & Halgin, 2014).According to DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

Disorders , fifth edition ) , the category of depressive disorders includes major depressive

disorder, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), disruptive mood dysregulation disorder

(diagnosed in children), premenstrual dysphoric disorder, substance or medication-induced

depressive disorder, and depressive disorder due to another medical condition. When an

individual experiences at least five among the symptoms of insomnia or hypersomnia, significant

weight loss (when not dieting) or weight gain, psychomotor agitation or retardation (observable

by others), feelings of worthlessness, or excessive or inappropriate guilt(which may be

delusional), fatigue or loss of energy, difficulty in concentrating or making decisions, recurrent

thoughts of death, suicidal ideation without a plan, or a suicide attempt or plan, along with

depressed mood( feels sad, empty, hopeless, appears tearful) and/or markedly diminished interest

or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities for the same two week period, representing a change

from previous functioning. These symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in

social, occupational and other areas of functioning, and are not attributable to the physiological

effects of a substance or medication, it is considered as a major depressive episode according to

DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

A major depressive episode is characterised by persistent depressed mood and inability to

anticipate happiness or pleasure, unlike grief which is characterised by predominant feelings of

loss and emptiness (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).A major depressive disorder is

when an individual experiences acute, time-limited major depressive episodes (Susan Krauss

Whitbourne & Halgin, 2014). The diagnosis of a major depressive disorder requires for the
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 7

individuals do not experience any manic or hypomanic episode and the major depressive episode

is not better explained by schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders(American

Psychiatric Association, 2013). When individuals experience two or more major depressive

episodes with an interval of at least two consecutive months without meeting the criteria of a

depressive episode, they are diagnosed with recurrent major depressive disorder (Susan Krauss

Whitbourne & Halgin, 2014).

A persistent depressive disorder is a chronic form of depressive disorder where the

symptoms are present for at least a period of two years and the period without symptoms is no

longer than two months(American Psychiatric Association, 2013). To meet the diagnosis, one

must experience a depressed mood along with at least two of the following symptoms of poor

appetite or overeating, insomnia or hypersomnia, fatigue, low self-esteem, poor concentration or

difficulty making decisions, feelings of hopelessness.(American Psychiatric Association,

2013).When individuals experience depressive-themed psychotic symptoms like delusions of

guilt, hallucinations, it is considered psychotic depression (National Institute of Mental Health,

2018). When depression is accompanied by symptoms of hypersomnia, overeating (craving for

carbohydrates), social withdrawal (feels like ‘hibernating’) - winter pattern and accompanied by

symptoms of insomnia, poor appetite, restlessness or agitation, anxiety, episodes of violent

behaviour - summer type, with onset during seasonal change and a recurrent seasonal pattern

lasting for 4-5 months per year, is characterised as a seasonal affective disorder.(National

Institute of Mental Health, 2018)

A cyclothymic disorder is characterised by the experience of both hypomanic and

depressive episodes without meeting the criteria for a manic episode, for a period of at least two
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 8

years in adults (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). A bipolar disorder (manic depression)

is a mood disorder in which an individual experiences a manic episode that may occur in

alternation with a major depressive episode (Susan Krauss Whitbourne & Halgin, 2014). The

diagnosis for Bipolar 1 disorder involves the experience of at least one manic episode with the

possibility but not a necessity of experiencing one or more major depressive episodes (Susan

Krauss Whitbourne & Halgin, 2014). The diagnosis for Bipolar 2 disorder requires the

experience of at least one episode of major depression and at least one hypomanic episode

(American Psychiatric Association, 2013). According to DSM-5, a significant number of

individuals who initially appear to have major depressive disorder prove instead to have bipolar

disorder in time as bipolar illnesses begin with one or more depressive episodes (American

Psychiatric Association, 2013).

The findings from a study conducted in Greece during the covid 19 pandemic stated that

clinical depression was present in 9.31% and an additional 8.5% experienced severe distress

(Fountoulakis et al., 2021). Various factors like general health status, previous history of

depression, self-harm and suicidal attempts, family responsibility, economic change, and age

acted as risk factors while keeping daily routine acted as a protective factor for the development

of depression (Fountoulakis et al., 2021).A review study finding showed that individuals who

spent higher time in moderate to vigorous physical activity had 15%-32% lower chances of

presenting symptoms of depression and 15% - 34% lower chances of presenting symptoms of

anxiety (Wolf et al., 2021).

An association was established between the time spent receiving COVID 19 updates and

depression scores and anxiety scores (measured using the DASS-21) in a study conducted
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 9

among 1145 adults in Singapore (Liu & Tong, 2020). Higher depression scores and anxiety

scores were associated with greater time spent on WhatsApp updates of the news. The use of the

government’s WhatsApp channel was associated with lower scores than non-users (Liu & Tong,

2020).

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines anxiety as “an emotion

characterised by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood

pressure”. Anxiety disorders form a category of mental health diagnoses that lead to excessive

nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worry. These disorders alter how a person processes

emotions and behaviour, also causing physical symptoms. Mild anxiety might be vague and

unsettling, while severe anxiety may seriously affect day-to-day living. Anxiety disorders affect

40 million people in the United States. It is the most common group of mental illnesses in the

country. However, only 36.9 percent of people with an anxiety disorder receive treatment.

(Felman, 2020)

Generalised anxiety disorder involves persistent and excessive worry that interferes with

daily activities. This on-going worry and tension may be accompanied by physical symptoms,

such as restlessness, feeling on edge or easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension

or problems sleeping. Often the worries focus on everyday things such as job responsibilities,

family health or minor matters such as chores, car repairs, or appointments. (Parekh, 2017)

The core symptom of panic disorder is recurrent panic attacks, an overwhelming

combination of physical and psychological distress. Because the symptoms are so severe, many

people who experience a panic attack may believe they are having a heart attack or other

life-threatening illness. They may go to a hospital emergency department. (Parekh, 2017)

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 10

A specific phobia is excessive and persistent fear of a specific object, situation or activity

that is generally not harmful. Patients know their fear is excessive, but they can’t overcome it.

These fears cause such distress that some people go to extreme lengths to avoid what they fear.

Examples are public speaking, fear of flying or fear of spiders. (Parekh, 2017)

Agoraphobia is the fear of being in situations where escape may be difficult or

embarrassing, or help might not be available in the event of panic symptoms. The fear is out of

proportion to the actual situation and lasts generally six months or more and causes problems in

functioning. A person with agoraphobia experiences this fear in two or more of the following

situations: using public transportation, being in open spaces, being in enclosed places, standing

in line or being in a crowd, and being outside the home alone. (Parekh, 2017)

A person with social anxiety disorder has significant anxiety and discomfort about being

embarrassed, humiliated, rejected or looked down on in social interactions. People with this

disorder will try to avoid the situation or endure it with great anxiety. Common examples are

extreme fear of public speaking, meeting new people or eating/drinking in public. The fear or

anxiety causes problems with daily functioning and lasts at least six months. (Parekh, 2017)

A person with separation anxiety disorder may be persistently worried about losing the

person closest to him or her, may be reluctant or refuse to go out or sleep away from home or

without that person, or may experience nightmares about separation. Physical symptoms of

distress often develop in childhood, but symptoms can carry through adulthood. (Parekh, 2017)

Participants of 120 men and 287 women, all adults aged older than 18 years were

recruited through a crowd working platform (‘Prolific’) who were paid to answer an online
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 11

questionnaire in a study. (Maaravi & Heller, 2020) To measure the state of general anxiety and

specific anxiety, they used State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The results suggest that women

do indeed report greater anxiety than men, even in times of a global pandemic; people are more

anxious about others than about themselves, their anxiety about relatives is higher than about

strangers, and anxiety about health is higher than about financial issues. (Maaravi & Heller,2020)

In a study conducted on Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Indians in Times of

Covid‑19 Lockdown,(Rehman et al., 2020)a total of 403 participants completed the survey where

110 were males, 291 were females and 2 preferred not to disclose their sex. From the sample,

139 were students, 51 were teachers, 31 were researchers, 34 were mental health professionals,

33 were health professionals (Doctors and Nurses), 35 were in a corporate job while the

remaining 80 were others (eg. homemakers, not employed, retired, businessmen, etc.). Family

Affluence Scale (Currie et al., 2008), Response Accuracy Scale (Monaghan et al., 2020) and

DASS21 were used for the measurements. The results indicated that people who do not have

enough supplies to sustain the lockdown were most affected, and family affluence was found to

be negatively correlated with stress, anxiety, and depression. Among different professions,

students and healthcare professionals were found to experience stress, anxiety, and depression

more than others. Despite the current situation, stress, anxiety, and depression were found to be

in normal ranges for mental health professionals highlighting their capabilities to remain normal

in times of distress. (Rehman et al., 2020)

In a research condected by Imran Aslan, Dominika Ochnik and Orhan Çınar a

cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 358 undergraduates from 14 universities in

Turkey, including 200 female students (56%). The measurements used in the study were the
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 12

Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8),

Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Perception of COVID Impact on Student Well-Being (CI),

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Physical Activity Scale (PA), and a socio demographic survey.

Students reported high perceived stress, mild generalised anxiety, and low satisfaction with life.

More than half of the students met the diagnostic criteria of GAD (52%) and depression (63%).

Female and physically inactive students had higher PSS-10 levels.(Aslan et al., 2020)

In another research conducted on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Levels Among

Healthcare Staff During the COVID-19 Epidemic(2020) which was conducted from March 2020

to May 2020 , the Sample of the study population consisted of 535 Staff healthcare members of

Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Zanjan City, Iran. A sample of 200 medical staff was randomly selected to

participate in the present study. The required data were collected using the electronic version of

Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS) tool. It was seen that there was a significant relation

between gender and variables of depression, anxiety, and stress. (Hosseinzadeh-Shanjani et al.,

2020)

Though a lot of study has been conducted on the mental well being of the general

population as a whole during the Covid19 pandemic, there is a lack of research among young

adults living in India. Therefore, in this paper we address this issue with the view that policy

makers and practitioners make effective and appropriate mental health management.
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 13

Research Questions:

1. Is there a relationship between the

A. Levels of stress and depression?

B. Levels of depression and anxiety?

C. Levels of anxiety and stress?

2. Is there a difference in the

A. Levels of stress between men and women ?

B. Levels of depression between men and women?

C. Levels of anxiety between men and women?

Objectives:

1. To determine the correlation between the

A. Levels of stress and depression

B. Levels of depression and anxiety

C. Levels of anxiety and stress.

2. To determine if there exists a difference in the

A. Levels of stress between men and women ?

B. Levels of depression between men and women?

C. Levels of anxiety between men and women?

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 14

Hypotheses:

H1. There is a correlation between levels of stress and depression.

H2. There is a correlation between the level of depression and anxiety.

H3. There is a correlation between the level of anxiety and stress.

H4. There is a difference in the levels of stress, depression and anxiety between men and

women.
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 15

Method

Research Design

The present research is a quantitative study in which Depression, Anxiety and Stress are

the three variables taken into account. This study adopts a correlational design to determine if

there is any correlation among the levels of depression, anxiety, stress. The gender based

difference in the levels of depression, anxiety and stress was studied.

Sample

The sample consists of the responses from 90 young adults in the age range of 18 - 28,

among which 45 are men and the other 45 are women. The sample was selected through

purposive sampling.

Figure 1.0

Showing Percentage of the Sample Distribution Based on Gender

Figure 1 illustrates that the sample consists of 50% men and 50% women participants.
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 16

Figure 2.0

Showing Frequency of Sample Distribution Based on Age

Figure 2 illustrates that the sample consists of 69 young adults from the age group 18-22 years,

20 from the age group 23-25 years and 1 from the age group 26-28 years.
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 17

Figure 3.0

Showing Frequency of Sample Distribution Based on State

Figure 3 illustrates that the sample consists of 56 young adults from Mizoram, 24 are from

Telangana, 6 are from Andhra Pradesh, and 4 are from other states within India.
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 18

Figure 4.0

Showing Frequency of Sample Distribution Based on Occupation

Figure 4 illustrates that 83 of the young adults are students, 6 are working and 1 young adult did

not specify their occupation in the sample.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 19

Figure 5.0

Showing Frequency of Sample Distribution Based on the Family Type

Figure 5 illustrates that the sample consists of 62 young adults from nuclear family type, 22 from

joint family type, and 6 from extended family type.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 20

Figure 6.0

Showing Frequency of Sample Distribution Based on “Are you seeking professional help?”

Figure 6 illustrates that 75 young adults are not necessarily seeking any professional help, 7 are

on medication, 4 young adults are attending counselling or therapy, and 4 are looking out for

help in the sample.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 21

Figure 7.0

Showing Frequency of Sample Distribution Based on “Average time you spend online in a day

for classes/work?”

Figure 7 illustrates that 35 young adults spend 4-6 hours, and 28 spend more than 6 hours, and 27

young adults spend less than 4 hours in a day for class or work in the sample.
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 22

Figure 8.0

Showing Frequency of Sample Distribution Based on “Average time you spend online in a day

for recreation? (Social media)”

Figure 8 illustrates that 37 young adults spend less than 4 hours, 35 spend 4- 6 hours, and 18

spend more than 6 hours in a day for recreation in the sample.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 23

Figure 9.0

Showing Frequency of Sample Distribution Based on “How updated are you with the news?”

Figure 9 illustrates that 41 young adults are sometimes, 30 are often, 9 are rarely, 5 young

adults are hardly and 5 are very often updated with the news in the sample.
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 24

Figure 10.0:

Showing Frequency of Sample Distribution Based on Average Sleep Time

Figure 10 illustrates that 74 young adults had an average sleep time of 5- 8 hours, 9 young adults

had an average sleep time of less than 5 hours, and 7 had an average sleep time of more than 8

hours in the sample.

Inclusion criteria:

1. Young adults who fall in the age group of 18 to 28 years.

2. Young adults who live within India.

Exclusion criteria :

1. Adults above 28 years and children below 18 years are excluded from the study.

2. Those who don’t have access to the internet were also excluded from the study.
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 25

3. Those who are illiterate were also excluded from the study.

4. Invalid responses were excluded from the sample.

5. Young adults who didn't give consent.

Instruments:

1 . Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21):

The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) is a widely used instrument developed by

Lovibond and Lovibond(1995) to measure anxiety, depression, and stress. This self-reported

questionnaire has 42 items. Seven items with the highest loadings from each subscale of the

original DASS were selected to develop the DASS-21. There are 21 items in this scale with four

response options: 0 “Did not apply to me at all–Never”, 1 “Applied to me to some degree, or

some of the time–Sometimes”, 2 “Applied to me to a considerable degree, or a good part of

time–Often” to 3 “Applied to me very much, or most of the time–Almost always”. Scores on

three subscales naming DASS-21-Depression (DASS-21-D), DASS-21-Anxiety (DASS-21-A)

and Stress (DASS-21-S) can then be calculated. There are seven items in each of the subscales;

depression, anxiety and stress. The score of which ranges from 0 to 21 (Lovibond SH, Lovibond

PF,1995).The depression scale D (Depression) Q3, 5, 10, 13, 16, 17, 21 assesses dysphoria,

hopelessness, devaluation of life, self-deprecation, lack of interest / involvement, anhedonia and

inertia. The anxiety scale A (Anxiety) Q2, 4, 7, 9, 15, 19, 20 assesses autonomic arousal, skeletal

muscle effects, situational anxiety, and subjective experience of anxious affect. The stress scale S

(Stress) Q1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 18 is sensitive to levels of chronic nonspecific arousal. It assesses

difficulty relaxing, nervous arousal, and being easily upset / agitated, irritable / over-reactive and
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 26

impatient. Higher Scores indicate higher levels of Depression , Anxiety and Stress respectively.

(Lovibond, S.H. & Lovibond, P.F. (1995). Manual for the Depression Anxiety & Stress Scales.

(2nd Ed.)

The reliability of DASS-21 showed that it has excellent Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.81,

0.89 and 0.78 for the subscales of depressive, anxiety and stress respectively. It was found to

have excellent internal consistency, discriminative, concurrent and convergent validities.

1)Informed consent form

Informed consent form was given to the participants which briefed them about the study. It was

made sure to take each participant’s consent before they were asked to fill the questionnaires.

2)Demographic data sheet (information schedule)

Participants were asked to fill up a socio demographic sheet which included details such as their

names or initials, age, state of the country they reside in, occupation, gender, average time spent

online in a day for work/classes, average time spent in a day for recreation, how updated they

were about the news and their average sleep time.

Procedure

After discussing the demographic variables, measures were taken to make the questionnaires in

google form. It was then circulated through whatsapp after permission was given by the

supervisors. A brief explanation was given to the participants about the purpose of the study,

after which informed consent was taken from them. Confidentiality is assured to the participants
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 27

and they are directed to the questionnaires. On average, the time taken to complete the

questionnaire was 10 minutes and their responses were then collected for data evaluation.

Statistics Used

Descriptive statistics is used by the researchers to outline the data. Correlation determines the

relationship between the three variables (stress, depression and anxiety) and t-test checks

differences in the levels of stress, depression and anxiety in men and women participants of the

study. This had been done with the IBM SPSS ver 20 .
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 28

Results

Table1

Correlation Between Stress, Depression and Anxiety.

Depression Anxiety

Stress 0.76** 0.77**

Note: * p ≤ 0.05.

** p ≤ 0.01.

The results from table 1 show that there is a significant positive correlation between stress and

depression (r =.76, p<.01). In other words, higher or lower levels of stress will indicate higher

or lower levels of depression and vice versa.

The results from Table 1 show that there is a significant positive correlation between stress and

anxiety (r = .77, p<.01).In other words, higher or lower levels of stress will indicate higher or

lower levels of anxiety and vice versa.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 29

Table 2

Correlation Between Depression and Anxiety.

Anxiety Stress

Depression 0.60** 0.76**

Note: * p ≤ 0.05.

** p ≤ 0.01.

The results from Table 2 show that there is a significant positive correlation between depression

and anxiety (r =.60, p<.01). In other words, higher or lower levels of depression will indicate

higher or lower levels of anxiety and vice versa.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 30

Table 3

Mean, Standard Deviation and t-test ratios of Stress,Depression and Anxiety on the Basis of

Gender of the Sample.

Men Mean Women Mean t-ratio

(SD) (SD)

Stress 14.53 16.44 1.05

(8.26) (8.96)

Depression 15.56 15.07 0.22

(9.99) (10.61)

Anxiety 12.44 15.69 1.74

(8.42) (9.18)

Note: * p ≤ 0.05.

The results from Table 3 show that there is no significant difference in the levels of stress,

depression and anxiety in men and women participants of the study.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 31

Discussion

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the three variables,

i.e. Depression, Anxiety and Stress and analyse the gender based difference in the levels of the

same in a sample of young adults.

Hypothesis 1 (H1) states that there is a correlation between the levels of stress and

depression. The results show that there is a significant positive correlation between the two

variables - stress and depression, meaning that as the levels of depression increase stress is also

higher. The outcomes of a research conducted by Shah et al., 2020 states that there is a

significant high score in stress and depression among students and the unemployed. In the

literature review of the study conducted by Varma et al., 2020, we also see the results of higher

levels of perceived stress strongly associated with depression. Thus accepting hypothesis 1 (H1).

Hypothesis 2 (H2)states that there is a correlation between the level of anxiety and

depression. The results show that there is a significant positive correlation between the two

variables - anxiety and depression which indicates that higher the levels of anxiety, higher the

levels of depression and vice versa. The results of a study conducted by Shao et al., 2020 states

that older students (≥20 years) experienced higher levels of depression and anxiety. More

depression and anxiety symptoms were exhibited among students with big financial burden, big

study-induced stress and poor sleep quality. Students who live alone or had bad relationships

with their lovers or classmates or friends showed higher depression and anxiety scores.

Depression and anxiety symptoms had highly significant correlations with family functioning,

social support and coping style. The results from the previous literature review of the study
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 32

conducted by Verma & Mishra, 2020 states that depression and anxiety were significantly

positively correlated with each other(p<0.01). Thus accepting hypothesis 2 (H2).

In support of the third hypothesis (H3) of the research , an attempt was made to establish

states that there is a relationship between the level of stress and anxiety. The results show that

there is a significant positive correlation between the two variables - stress and anxiety. The

positive correlation means that as the levels of stress increase the levels of anxiety also increase.

The findings of Gallagher et al., 2020 states that latent effects of COVID-19 stress were large

and statistically significant for anxiety, depression, health anxiety, and functional impairment.

Thus accepting hypothesis 3 (H3).

Hypothesis 4 (H4) states that there is a difference in the levels of depression, stress and

anxiety between men and women. However, The results show that there is no significant

difference in the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in men and women participants of the

study. The results also indicate that women scored slightly higher than men in anxiety and stress

whereas in depression the scores of men and women were similar. The literature review of the

research by Rehman et al., 2020 we see that in the results, no significant difference was observed

between males and females and they did not differ significantly on stress (t=0.73, p=0.46),

anxiety (t=0.69, p=0.50), and depression (t=0.12, p=0.90). Both men and women reported mild

stress, moderate anxiety, and mild depression. Hence, hypothesis 4 (H4) is rejected.

Implications and Recommendations

In general the findings shows that depression, anxiety and stress were prevalent among

young adults during the Covid19 pandemic, as a number of people are affected by mental health
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 33

concerns. The government and the mental health experts need to focus on the psychological

well-being of young adults. Therefore a similar study should be conducted on a larger sample,

and more studies need to focus on mental health and psychological well-being of young adults.

Also, there is a stigma around men seeking psychological help and hence they should be

encouraged to reach out for help, while women on the other hand should seek counselling or help

to overcome higher levels of stress, depression and anxiety.

Limitations of the study :

The major limitation of this study was that the study was conducted online and couldn’t

be collected in person. A lot of the participants were not familiar with the concept of filling the

questionnaires online.
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 34

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DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 40

Appendices

Appendix A

INFORMED CONSENT

Please read the following information and give your consent to be a part of the study.

This research is being conducted by a group of three undergraduate students: CH. Vaishnavi, C

Lalnunpuii and Lalfakawmi from final year BA psychology, St. Francis College for Women,

Begumpet, Hyderabad. We are conducting this research to fulfil our undergraduate degree

requirement.

The purpose of this study is to have a better understanding of your state of well-being and

emotional state during the Covid-19 pandemic. You will be required to answer a questionnaire.

There are no right or wrong answers. All you have to do is answer what is true for you .There is

no time limit. The responses will only be used as a part of the study to analyze the results. Please

note the findings from this study may be published and used in journals or article collections.

Your participation is anonymous and confidentiality will be maintained with the information

provided. There are little to no risks to the participants. Your participation in the research is

voluntary. You are free to withdraw from the research at any time. You may also request that any

data collected from you may not be used in the study. Your participation will help the research as

your views are important.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 41

CONSENT FORM

I have read and understood the provided information. I understand that my participation is

voluntary and I am free to withdraw at any time without giving any reason.

I VOLUNTARILY AGREE TO TAKE PART IN THIS STUDY.

I AGREE

DATE

(Month/day/year)
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 42

Appendix B

1.NAME (IN INITIALS-EX: TY):

2.AGE:

3.STATE:

4.OCCUPATION:

5.GENDER:
Male
Female
Other

6.FAMILY TYPE:
Nuclear
Joint
Extended

7.ARE YOU SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP?

Attending Counselling/Therapy
On Medication (for mental health)
Looking out for help
Not necessarily

8.AVERAGE TIME YOU SPEND ONLINE IN A DAY FOR CLASSES/WORK?

Less than 4hours
4-6hrs
More than 6hours

9..AVERAGE TIME YOU SPEND ONLINE IN A DAY FOR RECREATION (SOCIAL

MEDIA) ?
Less than 4 hours
4-6hrs
More than 6hours
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 43

10.HOW UPDATED ARE YOU THE NEWS?

0 ( Hardly)
1
2
3
4
5 (Very Often)

11. YOUR AVERAGE SLEEP TIME?

Less than 5hours
5-8hrs
more than 8hours
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 44

Appendix C

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale(DASS-21) Questionnaire:

0 1 2 3
Did not apply Applied to me Applied to me Applied to me
Items to me at al to some to a very much or
degree, or considerable most of the
some of the degree or a time
time good part of
time

1 (s) I found it hard to wind

down

2 (a) I was aware of

dryness of my mouth

3 (d) I couldn’t seem to

experience any positive
feeling at all

4 (a)I experienced
breathing difficulty (e.g.
excessively rapid
breathing,breathlessness in
the absence of physical
exertion)

5 (d) I found it difficult to

work up the initiative to do
things

6 (s) I tended to over-react

to situations

7 (a) I experienced
trembling (e.g. in the
hands)

8 (s) I felt that I was using

a lot of nervous energy
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS 45

9 (a) I was worried about

situations in which I might
panic and make a fool of
myself.

10 (d) I felt that I had

nothing to look forward to

11 (s) I found myself

getting agitated

12 (s) I found it difficult to

relax

13 (d) I felt down-hearted

and blue

14 (s) I was intolerant of

anything that kept me from
getting on with what I was
doing

15 (a) I felt I was close to

panic

16 (d) I was unable to

become enthusiastic about
anything

17 (d) I felt I wasn’t worth

much as a person

18 (s) I felt that I was

rather touchy

19 (a) I was aware of the

action of my heart in the
absence of physical
exertion (e.g. sense of heart
rate increase, heart missing
a beat)

20 (a) I felt scared without

any good reason

21 (d) I felt that life was

meaningless