Anxiety Symptoms Among Lebanese Health-care Students: Prevalence, Risk Factors, And Relationship With Vitamin D Status

Authors

  • José-Noel Ibrahim Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Lebanese German University, Faculty of Public Health, Sahel Alma, Lebanon, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Lebanese University, Faculty of Public Health II, Fanar, Lebanon
  • Léa Audi Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Lebanese German University, Faculty of Public Health, Sahel Alma, Lebanon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17532/jhsci.2021.1191

Keywords:

Anxiety, health-care students, Vitamin D, prevalence, risk factors

Abstract

Introduction: Various emotions may arise in the context of extensive curriculum of paramedical education. Their association to biological aspects such as Vitamin D status is to be examined with regard to the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in the region. This research aims to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and their relationship with Vitamin D status among Lebanese health-care students.
Methods: A total of 157 university students aged 18-25 years old completed a questionnaire related to medical and psychiatric history, nutritional intake, lifestyle habits, and social difficulties. Anxiety symptoms were assessed by Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Vitamin D serum levels were analyzed using ELISA technique.
Results: Anxiety symptoms were present in 37.5% of students with 2.5% presenting severe anxiety. Anxiety symptoms were significantly associated to health problems (p = 0.0038), social difficulties (p = 0.001), and a family history of psychiatric disorders (p < 0.0001). Low Vitamin D levels were detected in 49.3% of participants; 77.5% having a Vitamin D insufficiency while the rest presenting a Vitamin D deficiency. Students with anxiety symptoms had significantly lower Vitamin D levels as compared to those having no anxiety manifestations (17.9 ng/mL ± 7.9 vs. 24.2 ng/mL ± 9.9, p = 0.0023). However, no significant correlation was registered between anxiety symptoms scores and Vitamin D levels.
Conclusion: Anxiety symptoms were found to be relatively prevalent among health-care students and associated to low Vitamin D levels. Further studies are warranted to clarify the beneficial effect of Vitamin D supplementation in the prevention, management, and treatment of anxiety symptoms among health-care students.


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Published

26.04.2021

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Research articles

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How to Cite

1.
Anxiety Symptoms Among Lebanese Health-care Students: Prevalence, Risk Factors, And Relationship With Vitamin D Status. JHSCI [Internet]. 2021 Apr. 26 [cited 2024 Oct. 14];11(1):29-36. Available from: https://www.jhsci.ba/ojs/index.php/jhsci/article/view/1191