The Relationship between Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Women College Students

The present study aims at finding the relationship between depression, anxiety and stress among women college students. The mental health of university students is an area of increasing concern worldwide. College students go through significant negative emotions, such as depression and anxiety, especially when they have problems in achievement. Added to the stress of preparing for tests and exams, they also go through the stress of failure and the other implications such as facing the wrath of parents and teachers. A study by Bayram and Bilgel (2008) showed that anxiety and stress scores were higher among female students. Emotional and cognitive reactions to stressors occurred more frequently and females experienced higher self-imposed stress and more physiological reactions such as sweating, stuttering and headaches to stressors than males (Misra & McKean, 2000). Expost facto research design was used for the study. The sample consisted of 446 college going women, currently pursuing their second year of under graduation in city colleges. The tool used was the DASS scale by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995), measuring depression, anxiety and stress. Correlation was found using the Pearson's Product moment method. Results indicate that depression, anxiety and stress were positively correlated among women college students.