High Levels of Anxiety as Determinants of Stress in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted at a Brazilian University

Objective:
The study aimed to verify the correlation between anxiety and stress levels in undergraduate students at a Brazilian university.
Method:
A cross-sectional observational study with a quantitative approach was conducted. The sample consisted of 688 undergraduate students from a Brazilian public university. The instruments used for data collection were the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) to measure anxiety levels and the Lipp Stress Symptom Inventory (LSSI) to assess stress levels. Statistical analyses included non-parametric tests, such as Pearson's Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and the Mann-Whitney U test, as well as Spearman's correlation.
Results:
Younger participants, females, those without a partner, and those with lower income levels showed higher levels of anxiety. We found a strong correlation between anxiety and stress. Students with higher levels of anxiety also had higher scores in all stages of stress, particularly in the resistance and exhaustion stages. Physical and psychological stress symptoms were also more intense among those with higher anxiety.
Conclusion:
There was a significant correlation between anxiety and stress in university students, with important implications for the mental health of this population.