Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Undergraduate Female Physiotherapy Students of Different Medical Colleges of Lahore

Abstract

Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress are major mental health concerns among university students, particularly those in health sciences, where academic and clinical demands increase vulnerability. Female students often face additional sociocultural and personal pressures, heightening risk. Despite rising recognition of this issue, there is limited localized evidence regarding physiotherapy students in Pakistan, particularly in Lahore. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate female physiotherapy students in medical colleges of Lahore. Methods: A cross-sectional observational survey was conducted over six months among 196 female physiotherapy students aged 19–25 years, recruited from three medical colleges in Lahore. Data were collected using the validated Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 23. Prevalence estimates were reported with 95% confidence intervals. Results: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 70.9%, 80.1%, and 58.2%, respectively. Severity distribution showed that 39.8% of participants had extremely severe anxiety, while depression was evenly spread across mild (24.0%) and moderate (24.5%) categories. Older students exhibited higher prevalence rates, although associations with age were not statistically significant (p = 0.126). Conclusion: Depression, anxiety, and stress are highly prevalent among female physiotherapy students in Lahore, with anxiety being the most severe condition. Early screening, counseling services, and curriculum-based interventions are urgently needed to reduce psychological morbidity and improve student well-being.