Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among freshman students at Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City using DASS-21. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 343 new undergraduate students taking course related to biology. The results showed that the mean level of depression was the highest (14.12 ± 8.96) followed by anxiety (11.05 ± 7.87) and stress (8.94 ± 8.13). In total, 64.7% of students showed symptoms of depression or anxiety from low to highly significant, and 41.4% reported stress levels above the appropriate range. 16.9% of subjects were found to have extreme depression and anxiety. The results indicate that psychological distress is prevalent among freshmen and can have a negative impact on academic adaptation and learning motivation. Consideration should be given to early mental health assessments and comprehensive academic and psychological support programs to promote student well-being and academic achievement.

Keywords: DASS-21, Stress, depression, anxiety, freshman students.