Abstract
Introduction
Mental health concerns are on the rise in the Philippines, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Several factors, including sex and physical health concerns, contribute to this rise. However, there has been limited available research on the influence of physical health concerns on mental health concerns, particularly among Filipino female undergraduate students.
Purpose
The study investigated the influencing role of physical health concerns, particularly sleep disturbances, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, and respiratory infections, in the experience of depression, anxiety, and stress among Filipino female undergraduate students enrolled in a state university. The participants were freshman and sophomore undergraduate students enrolled during the first-ever semester of residential classes after the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of the investigation can be used in the crafting of a contextualized mental health program.
Methodology
The study employed a quantitative method of research. A total of 976 female undergraduate students (mean age of 18.87, representing 23 programs) from a state university in the Philippines were asked to respond to the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale and to the Physical Health Questionnaire. Both descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used to analyse responses from the research instruments.
Results
Using the responses of the female undergraduate students, descriptive statistics revealed that, as a group, they experienced severe depression, extremely severe anxiety, and moderate stress. Also, it was further revealed through multiple regression analysis that sleep disturbances, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, and respiratory infections significantly influenced stress, while sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems, and respiratory infections significantly influenced depression and anxiety.
Conclusion
The study highlights the importance of physical wellness in understanding mental health concerns. Therefore, understanding mental health concerns, particularly depression, anxiety, and stress among female undergraduate students, also requires understanding physical health concerns, which is necessary in contextualizing mental health programs.