Factors associated with the anxious symptomatology in a sample of university students

BACKGROUND: The university period may represent a moment in which the mental well-being of students is subjected to stress with relative predisposition to the development of diseases related to mood disorders. The aim of the study was to measure the severity of anxious symptoms within the student population of the University of Palermo. METHODS: An anonymous online questionnaire was provided to students enrolled in the mailing list of the Regional Agency for the Right to University Study of the University of Palermo. The first section investigated demographic and social data, while in the second section the B.A.I. (Beck Anxiety Inventory) test was administered. RESULTS: The sample consists of 539 students (average age 22.65±2.95). Considering as dependent variable, "anxious symptomatology moderate-severe," the associated statistically significant independent variables are "gender female" (aOR 1.84, 95% CI: 1.13-2.99, P=0.014), "I don't have a job right now"(aOR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.26-0.92, P=0.025) and "Low perceived health status" (aOR 2.94, 95% CI : 1.92-4.49, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety disorders are the psychopathological manifestations that most benefit from psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions. The need for a correct symptom evaluation is fundamental, both in primary prevention and in intervention and follow-up.