Prevalence of anxiety and depression among young adults in India: A descriptive analysis

Anxiety disorders are the most commonly experienced mental health disorders, affecting a significant section of the population including young adults. While mental health challenges related to anxiety and depression have been widely studied, there is a lack of region-specific research, particularly in emerging economies like India. This study calls for comprehensive, population-specific, and region-specific research on Indian young adults to provide evidence for developing policies and interventions. The purpose of this study is to provide a descriptive analysis of the prevalence of anxiety and depression among young adults across academic disciplines, and demographic segments. Data for this study were collected through an online survey using Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) circulated among college students in a selected region. The participants were approached using a convenience sampling method, the study received a total of 135 responses. Data was analyzed using non-parametric statistical tests such as the Mann-Whitney U test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test. A significant portion of college students covered in this study experienced moderate to severe levels of depression and anxiety. While there were no significant differences in depression and anxiety levels across gender groups, students pursuing different academic disciplines experience anxiety differently. Moreover, depression level was observed to be significantly different across the levels of study. This study was conducted with university students in northern India; the findings might be restricted to its cultural context. Educational institutions can leverage the insights based on this research to develop and implement tailored support services, including counseling and stress management sessions, as well as workshops.