Psychological distress, anxiety and depression among French students

Introduction: Young people attending university often do so during a developmentally critical period that is highly vulnerable to the onset of mental health problems. The impact of mental health problems can be profound, including reduced academic performance and relationship breakdown (Osborn et al., 2022). Distress tolerance and depression play a mediating role in the relationship between anxiety-related symptoms and stress among both dropout and non-dropout college students (Abbas et al., 2023).



Background: Derived from a broader study of mental health and addictive behaviors among 917 students, this study focuses on the effects of gender on psychological distress and correlations between psychological distress with anxiety and depression.

 

Methodology: A quantitative methodology was used, using the MIH-7 scale along with the GAD and PHQ9 scales to measure anxiety and depression, respectively. 



Results: A significant gender difference was observed on most MIH-7 items. The scale demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.782, McDonald's omega = 0.787). Positive correlations were also found between mental health (MIH-7), anxiety (GAD), and depression (PHQ-9).



Conclusions: This study highlights the gender differences in psychologicall distress among university students and the strong association between psychological distress and symptoms of anxiety and depression. The results highlight the need for integrated approaches to the assessment and support of students' mental health, taking into account gender factors and related psychological symptoms. The reliability of the MIH-7 scale further supports its utility as an preventive assessment tool in university settings.