Prevalence of state, trait, generalized, and social anxiety, and well-being among undergraduate students at a university in the Dominican Republic

Anxiety is the most prevalent mental health disorder worldwide and a major concern among undergraduate students, affecting both well-being and academic performance. Despite its global relevance, mental health in Dominican university students remains understudied. This study examined the prevalence of different types of anxiety—state, trait, generalized, and social—and their association with well-being in a probabilistic sample of 376 students (mean age = 20.15, 56.92 % women) at a private university in the Dominican Republic. Participants completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Results showed that 42.29 % had high state anxiety, 52.93 % high trait anxiety, 38.56 % moderate to severe generalized anxiety symptoms, and 21.81 % moderate to high social anxiety. In addition, 20.48 % reported very low well-being. Lower anxiety was significantly associated with better well-being. Cluster analysis revealed distinct student profiles: 41.8 % had mild anxiety and moderate well-being; 23.4 % had low anxiety and high well-being; 13.6 % had high anxiety and low well-being. More extreme profiles (e.g., severe anxiety with very low well-being) were rare (0.5 % each). Anxiety was more prevalent among women, while men reported higher well-being. These findings highlight the need to monitor mental health in Dominican universities and implement evidence-based strategies to support student well-being. The elevated anxiety levels observed may reflect the lingering psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. • High anxiety prevalence: 42.29 % state, 52.93 % trait, 38.56 % generalized, 21.81 % social. • Very low well-being was reported by 20.48 % of participants. • Anxiety and well-being showed significant negative associations across all dimensions. • Cluster analysis revealed profiles, with 41.8 % showing mild anxiety and moderate well-being. • Women reported higher anxiety levels, while men reported better well-being.