MABALACAT CITY COLLEGE RESEARCH JOURNAL

Mental Health Conditions of Mabalacat City College Students

During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Michelle Aguilar-Ong, DPA
Conrad M. Buerkley, Ed.D
Amelia Z. Macapagal, RGC
Marivic B. Gacho, MPA
Marilyn Arcilla, LPT, MAN

Abstract – The main purpose of the present study was to describe, The 2019 UNICEF data shows that there are about 2.2
compare, and analyze on mental health conditions of Mabalacat City billion young people in the world, with ages ranging from 10
College students during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were 307 to 19 which constitutes 28% of the world’s population that
respondents who are the second-year students enrolled during the first could have impacted the young people by the covid-19
semester of school year 2020-2021. The study employed descriptive pandemic, and the adverse consequences on adolescents and
method with comparative analysis of data and the convenience children could be long-term. Young people with healthy
sampling method was utilized. mental or psychological make-up could have been affected,
but how much more those whose vulnerability are at risk on
The results indicated that the student-respondents level of depression the basis of their poor mental health status before the
and anxiety are progressing. Meanwhile, most students who tend to pandemic, their response to stress, and positive history of
seek help have high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress which depression, and anxiety.
interpreted to extremely severe using the DASS-21 self-report scale. In the Philippines, even before the pandemic, the
World Health Organization (WHO) had already identified the
The researchers strongly recommending activities that will benefit the country as having more than three million cases of depression,
student-respondents in overcoming depression, anxiety, and stress in one of the highest in Southeast Asia identified 14% or 1.14
general, and should be implemented immediately. million Filipinos with mental disabilities by the Philippine
Statistics Authority. (PSA, 2010).
Keywords: Mental health condition, DASS-21, depression, anxiety, A study conducted at Mabalacat City College before
stress the pandemic identified some students who are considered
“high-risk” as based on their moderate to high level of
depression, anxiety, and stress. It is on this situation that this
I. INTRODUCTION present research aims to reassess these students’ mental health
status brought as consequences of the pandemic.
An unprecedented global crisis known as the COVID-
19 pandemic had its effects across nations, and across
Related Literature
populations. Everyone became direct and indirect victims of
the virus which did not discriminate among ages, status, or
The world of research is evidently scrambling to find
race.
out the mental health conditions of different groups of people
A vulnerable sector, undeniably, are the young people
during this COVID-19 pandemic. Among them are researches
known to be generally mobile, active, outgoing, and sociable.
describing the mental health status of students in educational
The lockdown, quarantines, isolation, social distancing, which
institutions, that is, the psychological effects of the COVID-
almost all nations of the world took as preventive measures to
19 pandemic, lockdowns, and other forms of restrictions
avoid the spread of the virus has taken a toll in the mental and
imposed on students.
psychological health of many. Educational institutions, leisure
Wang, et. al (2020) found out that the COVID-19
facilities, and malls were some of the establishments and
pandemic has commonly increased the degrees of stress and
operations which were either closed or restricted, and this has
depression among people. In their study, the extent of
disabled the young people to do their usual activities outside
respondents indicating depression, anxiety, or suicidal thought
of the home. The President of the Philippines, in response to
is disturbing, where respondents detailed scholarly, wellbeing,
the pandemic, has ordered the young people, aged 21 and
and way of life related concerns brought about by the
below to remain in their homes at the onset of the lockdown
pandemic as sources of worry. It was thus recommended that
termed as Enhanced Community Quarantine or ECQ.
given the unforeseen length and seriousness of the pandemic,

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MABALACAT CITY COLLEGE RESEARCH JOURNAL
these worries should be tended to, and that further studies negatively related to being at home, and identified reinforcing
ought to continue to forestall an auxiliary pestilence, installed vicious cycles among mental health problems and being alone,
inside the COVID-19 pandemic, of a genuine, cross country which in turn predicted concerns about COVID-19.
mental burden and potential actual self-hurt among weak Participants were recruited in the week following March 4,
undergraduates. 2020, through online advertisements on social networks,
In Europe, several college/university-based posters and flyers distributed in the Faculty of Social Sciences
researches have also been conducted. of Leiden University, or directly approached by the
Psychological effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and researchers. Participants were students at Leiden University.
lockdown among students and workers of a Spanish university The baseline survey consisted of 159 questions, in which
was the focus of Gonzalez, et. Al., (2020), aimed at analyzing participants were asked, among others, about their age,
the psychological and emotional impact of COVID-19 in the gender, relationship status, employment status, nationality,
university community during the first weeks of confinement. and prior mental health issues. In addition, the researchers
Using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), an assessed several constructs for which they used in part
assessment was made on the symptoms of depression, anxiety adapted or shortened versions of original scales to decrease
and stress of the respondents, while the emotional impact was participant burden: last-week problems regarding depression,
analyzed using the Impact of Event Scale, with 2530 members anxiety, and stress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale; DASS-
of the University of Valladolid, as participants. The results 21); last-month perceived stress (10-item Perceived Stress
revealed that moderate to extremely severe scores of anxiety, Scale by Cohen & Williamson); general loneliness (5 items
depression, and stress were reported by 21 to 34% of the from the 8-item revised UCLA loneliness scale;; general
respondents. The results further revealed that a total of frequency of social in-person activities (1 item); and self-
50.43% of respondents had moderate to severe impact of the efficacy (10-item General Self-Efficacy Scale. All scales were
outbreak. Thus, a recommendation was made by the modified to range from 1 through 5 for consistent assessment.
researchers to provide timely crisis-oriented psychological Due to these differences compared to the original scales, they
services and to take preventive measures in future pandemic refer to the adapted DASS-21 score as Global Mental Health
situations, and that mental health in university students should score, and the adapted ULS loneliness scale as loneliness
be carefully monitored. score, for the remainder of the manuscript.
Another study on students' loneliness, depression and Another study in Poland, Debowska, et. al. (2020),
stress levels in COVID-19 crisis was conducted by Miseries, stated that the time of boundless episodes of infectious
et.al (2020) based on the report findings from 248 diseases can prompt raised stress and emotional well-being
international undergraduates in The Netherlands. The findings issues among all people affected, and specifically those sub-
revealed that there are strong correlations between anxiety, gatherings of the populace that are at an expanded danger of
loneliness, and COVID-19-related stress with university psychological well-being issues- the college understudies. The
satisfaction together with social capital. It was noted that point of this investigation is to survey stress, depression,
where students are often thousands of miles away from their anxiety, and suicidality among various gatherings of college
families, compounded with compulsory lockdown due to the understudies (medical, psychology, and other). The outcomes
pandemic, created an “explosive mix of emotions” which led show a huge expansion in depression levels as the pandemic
to increased stress or even depression. To measure the anxiety was advancing. The study found that female students scored
and the depression of the respondents, the researchers used the altogether higher than male students on depression, anxiety,
Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). Based on the and stress. Psychology students recorded the most minimal
results, the stress, panic and anxiety from the pandemic scores on depression and anxiety. Young adult students (aged
lockdown are found associated with high levels of loneliness; 18–24 years) had more manifestations of depression, anxiety,
and similarly, depression is also associated with high levels of and suicidality than grown-up understudies (⩾25 years).
loneliness. The lockdown experience on a student’s life is In Italy, Rossi, et. al. (2020) reports on the mental
shown to be correlated to high levels of anxiety. health outcomes related to COVID-19 outbreak and related
Also in the Netherlands, a research on mental health lockdown measures on the general population in Italy. The
and social contact during the covid-19 pandemic, Fried, et al study shows relatively high rates of PTSS, Depression
(2020) concluded that students are at elevated risk for mental symptoms, Anxiety symptoms, Insomnia, Perceived stress and
health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic and public health ADS, with young women having higher odds of endorsing a
responses such as school and university closures caused once- mental health outcome. These outcomes were associated with
in-a-lifetime disruptions of daily life for most students. In a number of COVID-19-related risk factors, including being
March 2020, during the beginning of the outbreak in the under quarantine, having a loved one deceased by COVID-19,
Netherlands, the Ecological Momentary Assessment was used working activity discontinued due to lockdown measures, or
to follow 80 bachelor students 4 times a day for 2 weeks. experiencing other stressful events (i.e. working, financial,
Despite rapidly increasing rates of infections and deaths, relationship, or housing problems) due to the pandemic or
short-term dynamics revealed slight decreases of mental lockdown measures. These findings were adjusted for
health problems, COVID-19 related concerns, and loneliness, previous psychiatric illness and a history of childhood trauma,
especially in the first few days of the study. Students showed suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic is exerting an
no changes in the frequency of in-person social activities. independent effect on the population mental health.
Dynamic network models indicated that social activities were

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Mental health has also been the focus of some individuals who have no children detailed elevated levels of stress,
researches in different parts of Asia. anxiety, depression and psychological impact. These subgroups,
An online mental health survey in a Medical College in considered at more serious danger for unfavorable psychological
China during the COVID-19 Outbreak, Jia Liu, et.al (2020), results during a general wellbeing emergency, might be encountering
used materials and methods like the WeChat-based survey low social and enthusiastic help, expanded apparent danger to
program Questionnaire Star, which contained questions from prosperity and sensations of dread, disengagement and vulnerability.
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized
Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). A total of 217 students
participated in the survey. As revealed, 35.5% who Synthesis
participated in the survey were in a state of depression, and
22.1% were in a state of anxiety. The majority of students The surveyed literature revealed mental health issues and risks
who were in depressed or anxiety states had mild or moderate posed by the COVID-19 to various populations, students included. In
states. There were no significant differences in students in some researches, depression, anxiety, and stress as measured by
terms of gender, geographical location, and grade, for the DASS-21 was used as tool. The present study targeted a specific
prevalence of depression and anxiety. The study implies that student population, that is, from a local college and employed the
universities need to take measures to prevent, identify, and DASS-21 as well as tool to describe depression, anxiety, and stress.
deal with mental health problems among students during While there are different mental health issues tackled in the previous
large-scale stressors. studies conducted, as shown above, the present study made reference
Another study in India on depression, anxiety and stress only to depression, anxiety, and stress to describe mental health
among Indians in times of Covid-19 lockdown, Rehman, et. al. (2020), condition.
attempts to investigate mental misery among individuals living in India
during the lockdown- that is, manifestations of despondency, tension,
stress, and family opulence. The outcomes showed that individuals Conceptual Framework
who need more supplies to support the lockdown were generally
influenced, and family luxuriousness was discovered to be contrarily Figure 1 below illustrates the framework of the study.
related with stress, anxiety, and depression. Among various callings, The base data consisting of the respondents’ sex, civil status,
understudies and medical services experts were found to encounter and the obtained scores on the depression, anxiety, and stress
with stress, anxiety, and depression more than others. The information scales are processed. The data are described, compared
was gathered from various experts including understudies for this statistically, and the results are analyzed. This is to have a
examination. To the extent sex contrasts on with stress, anxiety, and picture of the mental health conditions of the student
depression were concerned, the males and females appeared to endure respondents during the pandemic, and group differences as to
similarly. The degrees of stress and depression were discovered to be sex, and before and during the pandemic.
gentle, though the degrees of anxiety were moderate among males and
females. Figure 1. Conceptual Paradigm of the Study
The same scenario was unveiled in another study conducted in
Pakistan, as the progressing COVID-19 pandemic, health care
professionals (HDPs) are confronting tremendous strain because of the
heavy load of cases, Sandesh, et. al. (2020). As a rule, they work
progressively extended periods, frequently with restricted assets and a
questionable foundation. In this manner, it is critical to beware of the
psychological wellness of caregivers. In light of the results of this
study, it is clear that an alarmingly high number of healthcare workers
are the victims of mental health ill-effects caused by the COVID-19
pandemic. In this study, high levels of anxiety, stress and depression
among medical care experts were noted, which is a reason for concern.
Both the public authority and medical services organizations are liable Hypothesis:
for securing the mental prosperity of medical care networks
everywhere on the world and guaranteeing a solid workplace. Since The following null hypotheses are tested:
there is a high predominance of stress, anxiety, and depression among
HCPs treating COVID-19 patients, it is basic to contribute assets to 1. There is no significant difference between the
advance the emotional wellness government assistance of forefront males and females’ scores on depression, anxiety,
experts. and stress at .05 level of significance using two-
As regard the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic in tailed test.
the Philippines, Tee, et. al. (2020), stated that the 2019 Covid illness 2. There is no significant difference in the
(COVID-19) pandemic represents a danger to social orders' emotional respondents’ depression, anxiety and stress scores
wellness. The study examined the pervasiveness of mental side effects when they before and during the pandemic
and recognized the components adding to mental effect in the lockdown using two-tailed t-test at .05 level of
Philippines. The study shows that females are more affected than significance.
males. The less educated, single individuals, kids and youths, the

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The respondents in the study are the second-year
Scope and Limitations students enrolled during the first semester of SY 2020-2021.
The convenience sampling method was employed whereby
The study is limited to the second-year college students those students who were able to comply with online testing of
of Mabalacat City College during the First Semester of School the instruments have comprised the total sample of 307. From
Year 2020-2021 who were also enrolled during the First these respondents, there are 50 students who were chosen
Semester of School Year 2019-2010. The measures of purposively for the test-retest of the instrument. These
depression, anxiety, and stress is based on the DASS21 or students were able to initially take the test during their
Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale which has 21 items. freshman year on the first semester of SY 2019-2020 prior to
the pandemic lockdown, and then had the retest.

Significance of the Study C. Instrument Used

The results of the study are deemed significant to the The DASS21 (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale 21)
following: questionnaire was the test used. This is a 21-item self-report
scale designed to measure the emotional states of depression,
The MCC administration and students. The results may anxiety, and stress. The scores are converted to levels as to
promote an understanding on the part of the college normal, mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe. The
administration of the current plight and mental condition of author, Peter Lovibond, gave permission to use the said test.
the students. This can be made reference by the college
administration in mobilizing the college departments and units D. Data Gathering Procedure
to develop intervention programs and strategies to help the
students in need. Consequently, the students shall be the Permission was sought from the academic department
primary beneficiaries in this study. of the college to administer the DASS21 questionnaire to
second year college students. The DASS21 questionnaire was
Mental health professionals and health care providers. then floated online.
The results may provide foundation in devising mental health
intervention programs which may be implemented by the E. Data Analysis
following professionals: psychologists, guidance counselors,
legal consultants, social workers, women crisis workers and In processing the data, computations of the means,
psychotherapists. standard deviations, and t-tests were the statistical tools
employed. The t-test was used to compare the depression,
Other researchers. Other researchers, counselors, or anxiety, and stress scores of the respondents before and during
psychologists may also look into other possible sectors whose the pandemic lockdown, at .05 level of significance, using 2-
mental health shall be described, by adopting the framework tailed test. The computations were done using the SPSS
of this study. statistical package software.

Global community. The study is a contribution to the

global arena for a better understanding of the mental health III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
conditions of people during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to
participate in the need for researches globally, due to the
Description of the Respondents
phenomenally notorious pandemic.
The respondents are described as to sex and civil
status.
II. METHODS

Table 1
A. Research Design
Profile of the respondents according to sex
The study employed descriptive method with
comparative analysis of data. The comparison is on the means Sex f %
between the test and retest. Female 229 74.59
Male 78 25.41
Total 307 100.00
B. Respondents of the Study
The majority of the student respondents are females
(229 or 75%) while about 25% (78) are males.

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condition. There are 27 or about 9% who are suffering
from severe to extremely severe stress.
Table 2.

Profile of the Respondents According to Civil Status Table 5

Civil Status f % Respondents’ DASS Level on Anxiety

Single 303 98.70
Married 4 1.30 Level f %
Total 307 100.00 Normal 79 25.73
Mild 20 6.51
As shown on Table 2, there are only 4 or 1% of the Moderate 83 27.04
respondents who are married, and the rest are all single. Severe 51 16.61
Extremely Severe 74 24.10
Description of the Respondents’ Mental Health Condition Total 307 100.00

The respondents’ mental health conditions are described in As can be gauged on the above table, there are 99
terms of their level of depression, anxiety, and stress. respondents or about 32% who have normal level of
anxiety, and 83 or 27% with moderate level of anxiety.
More than one-third (125 or about 40%) however, are on
Table 3 severe to extremely severe anxiety level.

Respondents’ DAS level on Depression

Comparison of the Mental Health Conditions Between Male
Level f % and Female Respondents
Normal 113 36.81 There are 229 female respondents and 78 males. Their
Mild 56 18.24 scores in depression, anxiety, and stress based on the DASS21
Moderate 86 28.01 are compared.
Severe 33 10.75
Extremely Severe 19 6.19
Table 6
Total 307 100.00
Comparison of the Depression Mean Scores Between the
A perusal of the above table reveals that there are 169 Female and Male Respondents
respondents (55%) or more than half of them who have
mild to normal level of depression; 86 or 28% with Depression Mean S.D. Description
moderate depression, and 52 or 17% with severe to Females (229) 13.31 8.192
extremely severe level of depression. Males (78) 11.72 7.543
Mean difference = 1.592
t= 1.512
Table 4 Sig. (2-tailed) = .132

Respondents’ DASS Level on Stress Based on the above table, the female respondents obtained a
mean score of 13.31 (S.D.=8.192) on depression, while the
Level f % males’ mean score is 11.72 (S.D.= 7.543). The mean
Normal 140 45.60 difference of 1.592 is not significant (p>.05).
Mild 96 31.27
Moderate 44 14.33
Severe 24 7.82
Extremely Severe 3 0.98
Total 307 100.00

Almost half of the respondents (140 or 45%) are on

normal level of stress, and 96 or 31% have mild stress Table 7

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Comparison of the Anxiety Mean Scores Between the Female It is revealed on Table 9 that the mean score on depression of
and Male Respondents the respondents during the initial test prior to the pandemic is
9.16 (S.D.= 6.129), and on the retest during pandemic is 13.92
Anxiety Mean S.D. Description (S.D.= 8.280) with a mean difference of -.4.76. There is
Females (229) 13.65 8.135 significant mean difference at .000 (p<.05). The null
Males (78) 11.71 7.619 hypothesis is thus rejected. Before the pandemic, the level of
Mean difference = 1.941 depression of the respondents is described as mild, and during
t= 1.849 pandemic, moderate.
Sig. (2-tailed) = .065

Table 10
Table 7 reveals the mean scores in anxiety scale of the female
and male respondents at 13.65 (S.D.=8.135) and 11.71 Comparison of the Anxiety Mean Scores of the Respondents
(S.D.=7.619), respectively. The mean difference of 1.941 is Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic
not significant (p>.05).
Anxiety Mean S.D. Description
Test 11.52 5.849 Moderate
Table 8 Retest 15.52 8.718 Severe
Mean difference = -4.00
Comparison of the Stress Mean Scores Between the Female t= -3.085
and Male Respondents Sig. (2-tailed) = .003
N = 50 (paired)
Stress Mean S.D. Description
Females (229) 13.56 8.496 As shown on Table 10, the mean score on anxiety of the
Males (78) 11.74 8.524 respondents during the initial test prior to pandemic is 11.52
Mean difference = 1.819 (S.D.= 5.849), and on the retest during the pandemic is 15.52
t= 1.632 (S.D.= 8.718) with a mean difference of -.4.00. There is
Sig. (2-tailed) = .104 significant mean difference at .003 (p<.05). The null
hypothesis is thus rejected. Also noted is the respondents’
As shown on Table 8, there is no significant difference in the level of anxiety before the pandemic which is moderate, and
mean scores of the females and males on stress scale (p>.05). during the pandemic as severe.
The female respondents’ mean score is 13.56 (S.D.= 8.496),
while that of the males is 11.74 (S.D.= 8.524), with a mean
difference of 1.819. Table 11

Comparison of the Stress Mean Scores of the Respondents

Comparison of the Mental Health Conditions of Respondents Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic
Before and During the Pandemic
Stress Mean S.D. Description
There are 50 respondents who have taken the
Females (229) 12.64 8.136 Normal
DASS21 test during the first semester of SY 2019-2020 and Males (78) 14.76 7.503 Normal
have retaken the test during the pandemic, on the first
Mean difference = -
semester of SY 2020-2021. Their test scores on depression, 2.120
anxiety, and stress were compared between the test and retest.
t= -1.827
Sig. (2-tailed) = .074
N = 50 (paired)
Table 9

Comparison of the Depression Mean Scores of the As gleaned on Table 11, the mean score on stress of the
Respondents Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic respondents during the initial test prior to the pandemic is
12.64 (S.D.= 8.136), and on the retest during the pandemic is
14.76 (S.D.= 7.503) with a mean difference of -.2.120. There
Depression Mean S.D. Description
is no significant mean difference at .074 (p>.05). Thus, the
Test 9.16 6.129 Mild
null hypothesis is accepted. The respondents’ level of stress
Retest 13.92 8.280 Moderate
before the pandemic is normal and remains normal during the
Mean difference = -4.76
pandemic.
t= 4.794
Sig. (2-tailed) = .000
N = 50 (paired)

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Mental Health Concerns of Respondents with Expressed Need of counseling. Ranked number 1 on the list of issues are “feels
for Counseling like using a lot of nervous energy” under stress scale; and
“unable to become enthusiastic about anything” under
Among the 307 respondents, there are 68 or 22% depression scale by 42 or 62% of the respondents. This is
with expressed need for counseling. An examination of their followed by being “aware of the action of the heart in the
severe to extremely severe mental health issues based on the absence of physical exertion” under anxiety scale at rank 2
DASS21 questionnaire was made. with 41 or 60% of the respondents. At rank 3 is “finds it
difficult to relax,” also under stress scale, which is a concern
of 38 or 56% of the respondents. Ranked last among the
Table 12 mental health issues is “feels unworthy as a person,” under
depression scale, with 16 (13%) of the respondents. The ratio
Mental Health Issues of Respondents with Expressed Need for between the number of respondents and frequency of the
Counseling issues is 1:9.5.

Mental Health Issue f %(n=68) Rank

Depression DISCUSSION

Couldn’t seem to experience any This chapter presents the interpretation of the results,
20 29.41 12 highlights of the findings, conclusions drawn, and
positive feeling at all
Finds it difficult to work up recommendations.
31 45.59 8
initiative to do things.
Feels there is nothing to look
22 32.35 11 Description of the Respondents
forward to.
Feels down-hearted and blue. 28 41.18 8
Unable to become enthusiastic Majority of the respondents are females and this
42 61.76 1 reflects the proportion of female and male enrollees in the
about anything.
Feels unworthy as a person. 16 23.53 13 college. The respondents are dominated by singles which is
Feels that life is meaningless. 36 52.94 4 expected since they are still students.
Anxiety
Aware of dryness of mouth. 28 41.18 8
Experiences breathing difficulty. 33 48.53 6 Mental Health Conditions of the Respondents
Experiences trembling 33 48.53 6
Worried about situations in The college students’ levels of depression, anxiety, and
which to panic and make a fool 33 48.53 6 stress reveal their mental health conditions during the
of self. COVID-19 pandemic. The students are found mostly able to
Feels being close to panic. 27 39.70 9 manage depression and stress since majority of them are
Aware of the action of the heart shown to have normal to mild levels of depression and stress.
in the absence of physical 41 60.29 2 Even then, the fact that there are still students who have
exertion. moderate to extremely severe levels of depression, based on
Feels scared without any good the DASS21, may not be ignored.
33 48.53 6 The findings reflect the prevailing picture of the mental health
reason.
Stress state of young people, students, or general population
globally.
Finds it hard to wind down. 35 51.47 5 Those with moderate to extremely severe levels of
Tends to over-react to situations. 22 32.35 5 depression comprise almost half of the respondents, while
Feels like using a lot of nervous those with moderate to extremely severe levels of stress are a
42 61.76 1 fourth of the respondents. This is still alarming and needs to
energy.
Finds self as getting agitated. 32 47.05 7 be addressed. In a study conducted at University of Valldolid
Finds it difficult to relax. in Spain, the same instrument, the DASS21 was used and the
38 55.88 3
findings showed that 21 to 34% of the respondents fall on the
Intolerant of anything that keeps moderate to extremely severe levels of depression and stress.
self from getting on with what 24 35.29 10 Consequently, they made a recommendation that crisis-
has been doing. oriented psychological services, as well as preventive
Feels rather touchy. 33 48.53 6 measures in future pandemic situations, and the mental health
Total (multiple responses) 649 of university students should be monitored carefully. In
Ratio= 1:9.5 another study conducted in Poland assessing university
students’ stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality, the
Table 12 shows the mental health issues of the 68 respondents findings showed that the students, especially the females,
who wanted to share their concerns, talk to someone, or avail scored high on depression, anxiety, and stress. It was also

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noted that young adult students aged 18-24 years, had more the lockdown experience on a student’s life is correlated to
manifesting symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidality. high levels of anxiety. It is thus construed that the pandemic
This is the same age bracket of the student respondents in the has wrought considerable damage on the mental state of the
present study. students, which is actually a reflection of the global scenario.
In China, a study was conducted with 217 students in a Students had been under quarantine in their homes during the
medical college and the findings showed that 22.1% were in a period of the COVID-19 outbreak, which lasted for months,
state of anxiety, and 35.5% were in a state of depression (Jia and the prolonged time of isolation and the associated
Liu, et.al., 2020). Although it may seem that the mentally consequences might induce depression and anxiety among
affected are outnumbered by those who are mentally well, the students (Jia Liu, et. al., 2020).
more glaring reality is that there are students who are indeed
mentally or psychologically affected. In the present study,
although those with severe state of depression and stress are Mental Health Issues of Students in Need of Counseling
less in number than those with normal or mild condition, for
as long as there are students whose mental health are at risk, From among the 307 respondents, there are 68 who
this is still cause for appropriate action. expressed their need to share their issues, talk to someone, or
An even more serious concern is the result on the avail of counseling. The mental health issues of these 68
anxiety level of the student respondents. Almost 70% or an students based on the DASS21 were identified and ranked.
overwhelming majority have moderate to extremely severe The first three specific issues are “feeling that a lot of nervous
levels of anxiety. Although the DASS21 measure on anxiety energy are used,” “heart action despite the absence of
is not for diagnostic purposes, the students who turn out to be physical exertion,” and “difficulty in relaxing.” These issues
having anxiety manifestations may already be considered at fall under each of the three scales in the DASS21
risk. At this time of pandemic when the normal routines of the administered- depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively.
young people have been disrupted, feelings of anxiety could Under the depression scale, the other issue which
be a normal reaction. However, if the feeling of anxiety is turned out to be most suffered or felt by the prospective
extreme, lasts for longer than six months, and interfering with counselees is the “feeling that life is meaningless.” This is an
life, then it may be subject to a more formal assessment for issue of concern because one who does not find meaning in
proper diagnosis. life might not have direction, or worse, might consider giving
up.
Under the anxiety scale, the other prevalent issues are
Comparison of the Mental Health Conditions of Female and panic, breathing difficulty, and trembling. These students
Male Respondents need further assessment for proper diagnosis as to the risk of
having anxiety disorder.
In a study conducted in Poland (Agata Debowska, Under stress scale, the “feeling of being touchy” is another
et.al., 2020) assessing university students’ stress, depression, issue of concern. This feeling may be rooted from the
anxiety, and suicidality, it was found that female students student’s self-concept- which covers self-confidence, self-
scored higher than male students on depression, anxiety, and esteem, and self-image. Each student is also shown to
stress. In China, a study conducted by Jia Liu, et.al., (2020), it manifest at least nine (9) of the 21 mental health issues, based
was shown that there are no gender differences in the on the ratio of 1:9.5.
prevalence of depression and anxiety among students in a Meanwhile, the feeling of being unworthy as a person
medical college in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. is the least among the mental health issues bothering the
The results of the present study are similar to the findings of students. It may give some kind of relief that the students
Jia Liu, et.al., (2020) where the females and males suffer from generally still believe in themselves or maintain feelings of
depression and anxiety just the same, without significant self-worth despite their condition. Nonetheless, however few
distinction. are those students who feel “unworthy as a person,” still they
must be given proper attention and intervention.

Comparison of the Mental Health Conditions of Respondents

Before and During Pandemic
Conclusions
From among the student respondents, there were 50
who were able to take the DASS21 during the First Semester Based on the findings of the study, the following
of SY 2019-2020, that is, prior to the pandemic. Their mental inferences are drawn:
health conditions in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress as The college students’ mental health conditions during
measured by the DASS21 were compared before and during the COVID-19 pandemic have become an area of concern
the pandemic. It was revealed that the concerned students’ based on their levels of depression and stress, and worse, their
depression level significantly increased from mild to severe level of anxiety.
moderate, and their anxiety level from moderate to severe. In There is indication that the level of depression and anxiety of
a study in Netherlands on international students’ depression the college students is progressing.
and stress levels in COVID-19 crisis, the results revealed that

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MABALACAT CITY COLLEGE RESEARCH JOURNAL
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