Factors associated with post traumatic stress disorder symptoms among Bangladeshi university students after one year of COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic enhances mental health burden worldwide as well as people experiencing several psychiatric problems (e.g., Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) due to its intensive consequences. Therefore, this study aimed to envisage the factors associated with PTSD symptoms among university students in Bangladesh after living with COVID-19 outbreak for a year. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2100 Bangladeshi university students aged ≥ 18 years from April 29 to May 15, 2021. The questionnaire comprised socio-demographics along with COVID-19 related physical and psychosocial factors (CRPPF), preventive response to psychological stress, and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were performed for statistical analysis. Results: About 56.76% of the students had provisional PTSD. Female students were more likely to suffer from PTSD symptoms than male students (AOR= 1.68; 95% CI: 1.35 to 2.08). Being a victim of social media bullying (AOR= 1.57; 95% CI: 1.17 to 2.11), having relationship problems (AOR= 2.25; 95% CI: 1.82 to 2.79), and feeling own self as a burden to their families (AOR= 2.84; 95% CI: 2.27 to 3.56) had a significant association with a higher possibility of suffering from PTSD symptoms in this outbreak. Conclusion: University students experienced PTSD symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic which call for detailed in-depth explorations, confirmatory clinical diagnosis, and adoption of preventive strategies to minimize their suffering amid this pandemic.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• PTSD
• University students
• Bangladesh