AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INFLUENCE OF DEPRESSION ANXIETY AND STRESS ON UNDERGRADUATE AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION SYSTEM

Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress are growing public health concerns among university students worldwide, particularly those pursuing undergraduate studies. These psychological conditions can significantly affect academic performance, quality of life, and satisfaction with the educational environment. As higher education becomes increasingly competitive, the mental well-being of students is often compromised, especially in urban academic settings like Karachi. Understanding how these mental health challenges intersect with the university educational system is essential for designing responsive support mechanisms. Objective: To investigate the prevalence and association of depression, anxiety, and stress with the university education system among undergraduate students in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 196 undergraduate students aged 18–30 years from public and private universities in Karachi. Participants were selected using purposive sampling and completed standardized questionnaires including the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Student Evaluation of Educational Quality (SEEQ). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23.0. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi-square tests, and correlation analysis were employed to assess associations. Ethical approval was obtained prior to data collection. Results: Depression was reported in 60.7% of students, anxiety in 70.9%, and stress in 20.9%. Among them, 30.6% had mild depression, 29.1% moderate, and 1.0% severe. Anxiety was classified as mild in 12.8%, moderate in 30.1%, severe in 25.5%, and extremely severe in 2.6%. Stress was reported as mild in 15.3% and moderate in 5.1%. The mean SEEQ score was 65.93 ±11.72. Pearson correlation revealed strong associations among depression, anxiety, and stress (p<0.05). Stress showed a significant association with educational quality (p=0.021). Conclusion: Mental health issues are highly prevalent among undergraduates in Karachi and significantly impact perceptions of educational quality. Institutions must prioritize mental health services, integrating counseling, awareness campaigns, and academic support to foster healthier educational environments.