Gender differences in depression, anxiety, and stress among Filipino college students during the post-pandemic period

Abstract

This paper aims to look at the level of depression, anxiety, and stress experienced by Filipino college students in a state university in the post-pandemic period. Six hundred thirty (n = 630) students participated in the data collection process, utilizing a stratified random sampling technique. The data was analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Mann-Whitney U test. DASS-21 was used to measure the level of depression, anxiety, and stress experienced by the student. Results showed a moderate level of depressive symptoms among male and female respondents. Females reported to have experienced severe anxiety and mild stress, whereas male respondents recorded a moderate level of anxiety and a normal level of stress. Moreover, the results also revealed that there is a significant difference in the level of depression, anxiety, and tension between female and male college students (p < 0.05). This suggests that men and women experienced stressors and pressures and responded to emotional difficulties in distinct ways. This highlights the significance of gender-sensitive approaches in mental health support and intervention programs within educational settings. Appropriate resources and strategies that can be used in academic institutions may include focus group training and workshops about expressing emotions through open dialogue for both genders, gender-specific mental health programs as part of their regular semestral orientation, and educational seminars as part of their mental health programs and services which includes activity such as mental health day or any university-organized games that are related to mental health wherein both genders must participate for a holistic approach.