AUTHOR=Mamani-Benito Oscar , Carranza Esteban Renzo Felipe , Castillo-Blanco Ronald , Lingán-Huamán Susana K. , Gálvez-Díaz Norma del Carmen , Huancahuire-Vega Salomón , Corrales-Reyes Ibraín Enrique 

TITLE=Worry effect for COVID-19 transmission over depression, anxiety, and satisfaction with studies in Peruvian university students

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Education

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2023.1149765

DOI=10.3389/feduc.2023.1149765

ISSN=2504-284X

ABSTRACT=Concern about contracting COVID-19 has had repercussions on university students. The aim of this study was to determine its effect on depression, anxiety, and satisfaction with studies. Using an explanatory cross-sectional design, 1260 medical, nursing, and dentistry students from both public and private universities in Peru participated. They were assessed using a scale for concern about contracting COVID-19, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2), and a brief scale for satisfaction with studies. After analyzing the data using structural equation modeling, it was found that the explanatory model had an adequate fit. It showed that concern about COVID-19 has a direct and significant effect on anxiety (β=0.46, p<0.001) and depression (β=0.38, p<0.001). However, the same effect was not evident on satisfaction with studies (β=-0.06, p=0.068). In conclusion, the uncertainty about contracting COVID-19 triggered symptoms of anxiety and depression among Peruvian university students. Still, it did not affect the satisfaction students felt when their academic expectations were met.