Prevalence and risk factors associated with perceived stress among university students in South Africa after Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: Perceived stress is a mental disorder that leads to physical, emotional, and psychological disturbances. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of perceived stress among a cohort of university students in South Africa after the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted involving students in the Faculty of Science at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University from August to September, 2023. The perceived stress scale (PSS)-10 was used to assess the level of stress among science students. Logistic regression was conducted to identify predictors of perceived stress.Results: Hundred and fifty-eight (158) students participated in this study, of which 91.1% (n=144) completed sections of the PSS questions and were further analysed. Their mean age was 23.3±2.9 years ranging from 18 to 40 years. There were more female respondents than males (70.8% versus 29.2%). Of the respondents, 93.8% were unmarried, 63.9% were undergraduates and 97.3% were African. Twenty-five percent (n=39) of the participants had symptoms of perceived stress. In the univariate logistic regression model student’s age, gender, and marital status were identified as predictors of perceived stress. As per the results of the multivariate logistic model, perceived stress was significantly high among females compared to males.Conclusion: One-quarter of our study participants had perceived stress during the post COVID-19 era. Females were significantly more affected as compared to males. Thus, implementing measures to reduce perceived stress, more specifically among the female undergraduates is a timely requirement.