Alhaddad, Kadhim Abdulhaleem Kadhim and Dil, Satı and Al-Dujaili, Arafat Hussein (2026) Assessment of the Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Among Nursing Students in the Middle Euphrates of Iraq in Pandemic Process. International Journal of Integrative and Modern Medicine, 4 (8). ISSN 2995-5319

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Abstract

Background: Nursing students experience substantial psychological strain during public health emergencies. However, little is known about the prevalence of anxiety and depression among nursing students in the Middle Euphrates region of Iraq during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression among nursing students in this region during the pandemic and to identify the sociodemographic factors associated with them. Methods: A descriptive, observational study was conducted between March and June 2022 across four government universities in the Middle Euphrates region of Iraq: the University of Karbala, University of Babylon, University of Al-Qadisiyah, and University of Kufa. A sample of 812 nursing students, determined by a priori power analysis, was recruited using simple random sampling. Data were collected online using Google Forms, a Sociodemographic Characteristics Form, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). As the data were not normally distributed, the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare group differences, and Spearman's rho was used to examine correlations at a significance level of 0.05. Results: Most participants were female (57.9%), single (77.4%), and without children (84.0%). The mean STAI state anxiety (TX-1) score was 50.9 ± 10.1, and the mean trait anxiety (TX-2) score was 50.2 ± 10.7. The mean BDI score was 21.00 ± 12.00, corresponding to moderate depression on average; 27.2% of participants had severe depression, and 31.8% had moderate depression. Anxiety scores were significantly higher among unemployed students and those with negative income, current smoking status, chronic disease, or medication use (p < 0.05 for all). Depression was significantly associated with education level, employment status, income, smoking status, and place of residence (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between anxiety subscales and depression scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Nursing students in the Middle Euphrates region of Iraq reported elevated anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the highest scores concentrated among unemployed, low-income, smoking, and chronically ill students. These findings support the need for targeted psychological counseling and preventive mental health programmes for nursing students, particularly during public health crises.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Anxiety, Depression, COVID-19 pandemic, Nursing students, Iraq
Subjects:	H Social Sciences
Depositing User:	admin eprints
Date Deposited:	17 Aug 2026 08:59
Last Modified:	17 Aug 2026 08:59
URI:	http://eprints.umsida.ac.id/id/eprint/16988

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