THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STRESS, ANXIETY, DEPRESION AND FEAR OF COVID-19 AMONG STUDENTS AT DALAT COLLEGE

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between stress, anxiety, depression, and fear of COVID-19 among students at Dalat College during the pandemic. A cross-sectional design was employed, with 169 students (M_age = 19.83, SD = 0.93) completing the Vietnamese versions of the DASS-21 and FCV-19S. The results revealed that 42% of students experienced stress, 48.5% reported anxiety, and 30.8% displayed symptoms of depression, with 17.2% exhibiting all three conditions simultaneously. The mean score of the FCV-19S indicated a moderate level of fear (M = 19.95, SD = 5.58). A one-way ANOVA demonstrated significant differences in fear levels across groups with varying mental health conditions (F(3,165) = 10.42, p < .001), with higher fear scores observed among those with multiple mental health conditions. Pearson's correlations showed significant positive associations between fear of COVID-19 and anxiety (r = .488, p < .01), stress (r = .341, p < .01), and depression (r = .243, p < .01). The findings highlight the cumulative psychological burden of the pandemic and underscore the need for early detection and integrated mental health interventions in educational settings to mitigate long-term consequences.