Mental health during societal crisis: anxiety, depression, and stress among students at the Arab American University.

INRODUCTION: This study examined the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate students at the Arab American University in Palestine. METHODS: A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-42). The sample comprised 384 undergraduate students from different academic disciplines. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis H tests, and post-hoc pairwise comparisons where appropriate. RESULTS: A substantial proportion of students were classified within the extremely severe depression category (67.45%), severe anxiety category (33.33%), and severe stress category (47.92%). A statistically significant gender difference was found in depression scores, U = 15,515.00, p = 0.009, with male students showing higher mean ranks than female students. Depression scores also differed significantly across GPA categories, H(3) = 8.21, p = 0.042. Post-hoc comparisons showed a significant difference between students with GPAs of 2.33-2.99 and 3.67-4.00. No statistically significant differences were found for anxiety or stress according to gender, faculty type, or GPA category. DISCUSSION: The findings indicate a substantial burden of psychological distress within the study sample. Although causal factors were not investigated, the results support further research examining the influence of ongoing socio-political conditions and highlight the importance of appropriate university-based mental health support.