State of Emotional Health Disorders of Undergraduate Students in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Introduction: The emotional health disorders are a significant burden to the health of the residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, there is a paucity of evidence on the prevalence of mental health disorders throughout the Middle East in general. The prevalence of mental health problems among students and the associated impact on UAE society requires more exploration. Building an understanding of these factors is essential to inform the development of interventions in the UAE context.

Aim: This study aimed to establish the prevalence of three main mental health problems (depression, anxiety, and stress disorders) among undergraduate students in the UAE.

Methods: This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional mixed methods design. Data were collected 2018 using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) just before the Mental Health problems associated with Corona Pandemic and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software.

Results: The results were reported using descriptive statistics. This study received ethical approval. The prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in one Emirates in UAE were 38% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.04-2.33), 55% (95% CI: 2.52-2.87), and 29% (95% CI: 1.76-2.02), respectively.

Conclusion: Anxiety disorders are the predominant mental health problem among UAE students. There is a need for increased research in this area and on mental health problems in general in the UAE.

Keywords: anxiety disorders; depression; emotional health; mental health; stress disorders.