Anxiety is a prevalent mental health disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Among young adults, undergraduate university students are particularly susceptible to experiencing non-specific anxiety. Although this is a widely acknowledged issue, there is still a need for comprehensive research to understand the prevalence and implications of non-specific anxiety in this population. In this article, we present the findings of a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies exploring the prevalence of non-specific anxiety in undergraduate university students. Our study sheds light on the magnitude of the problem and its impact on the mental health of young adults, offering valuable insights for clinicians, researchers, and policy-makers.
Anxiety disorders have become an increasingly pressing issue in recent years, with a growing number of individuals affected by anxiety-related conditions. In response to this trend, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) developed a Quality Standard (QS53) for Anxiety Disorders in 2014, which provides guidelines for the identification, assessment, and management of anxiety disorders in a variety of contexts.
The development of this Quality Standard was informed by numerous research studies on the prevalence of anxiety disorders, their impact on quality of life, and effective treatment approaches. One of these studies, conducted by Olatunji et al. (2007), conducted a meta-analysis of research on quality of life in individuals with anxiety disorders. The study found that individuals with anxiety disorders had significantly poorer quality of life in a variety of domains, including physical health, psychological wellbeing, and social functioning.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also recognized the global impact of anxiety disorders, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which affects an estimated 3.6% of the world’s population (Ruscio et al., 2017), and other common mental disorders, such as depression, which affect an estimated 322 million people worldwide (WHO, 2017). These conditions have been particularly prevalent among university students in recent years, with a growing number of students reporting high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (Shackle, 2019; Sheldon et al., 2021).
Numerous studies have examined the prevalence and risk factors for mental health problems among university students. For example, a meta-analysis by Pedrelli et al. (2015) found that the prevalence of depression and anxiety among college students was significantly higher than among the general population. The Healthy Minds Study team (2020) reported on the findings of a survey of over 200,000 undergraduate students across 54 US colleges and universities, which found that over 40% of the students surveyed reported experiencing significant symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Similar findings have been reported in studies of medical students, who are at particular risk for mental health problems due to the stress and demands of their coursework and clinical training (Dyrbye et al., 2006; Mao et al., 2019; Zeng et al., 2019). Byrnes et al. (2020) conducted a qualitative study of medical students’ perceptions of curricular influences on their wellbeing, which found that students were concerned about the impact of their workload on their mental health, and suggested that changes to the curriculum could help to alleviate some of these concerns.
Despite the growing body of research on anxiety disorders and their impact on individuals’ lives, there remains a significant stigma surrounding mental health issues, particularly among university populations (Hope and Henderson, 2014; Sayburn, 2015). This stigma can make it difficult for students to seek help for their mental health problems, and can exacerbate feelings of isolation and hopelessness.
To address these issues, it is important for universities and other institutions to prioritize mental health and wellbeing in their policies and practices. This might involve providing resources and support services for students, raising awareness of mental health issues, and creating a culture of openness and acceptance around mental health.
In conclusion, anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions are a growing concern, particularly among university students. It is crucial that we continue to research these issues so that we can understand their causes and develop effective treatments, as well as working to reduce the stigmatization of mental health problems and promote greater awareness and understanding of these issues among students and broader society. NICE’s Quality Standard on Anxiety Disorders provides an important framework for achieving these goals and improving outcomes for individuals struggling with anxiety-related conditions.
