Perceived stress among undergraduate medical students and its association with anxiety and depression in district Almora, Uttarakhand

Background: Medical students are highly prone to stress, anxiety, and depression due to academic and psychosocial challenges, emphasizing the need for effective mental health interventions.Objectives: This research aims to investigate the levels of perceived stress among healthcare students and its relationship with anxiety and depression.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at GMC Almora using a validated questionnaire. The 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was employed to assess perceived stress, while the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was utilized to measure anxiety and depression. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.Results: The mean age of the participants was 21.15±2.04 years. Out of 278 students, 140 were male, and 138 were female; 21 reported having a known illness in the past. The study found that 52.1% of students experienced moderate to high levels of perceived stress. Regarding anxiety levels, 24.5% of students reported moderate anxiety, while 23% experienced concerning levels of anxiety. Approximately 7.6% of students indicated they had a known illness. Perceived stress was significantly associated with anxiety, depression, gender, academic year, and the presence of known illness.Conclusion: Stress is highly prevalent among healthcare students and is strongly associated with female gender as well as levels of anxiety and depression. Therefore, addressing the mental health of healthcare students is crucial, as it significantly impacts perceived stress and identifies at-risk individuals.