Perceived stress, anxiety and depression : Living along the border in Jammu and Kashmir

Background: Conflicts adversely affect psychological well-being and are associated with mental disorders. Aim: The study aims to assess the levels of perceived stress, anxiety and depression and their association with demographic factors among the youth in the border villages of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among youth aged 18 to 25 years. The sample consisted of 300 individuals from the border villages of J&K. Of these, 150 individuals were from the villages located near the International Border (IB) in the Jammu district, and 150 individuals were from the villages near the Line Of Control (LOC) in the Rajouri district. Perceived Stress scale (PSS), Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD7), and Public Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) scales were used to determine the levels of perceived stress, depression, and anxiety. Mann Whitney, Chi-square and Odds ratio analysis were performed to assess the levels of the indicators and their association with demographic factors. Results: 94% of the respondents had perceived stress, 34.46% anxiety and 31% depression. Perceived stress, anxiety and depression were significantly higher among the LOC youth than IB youth (p < .00*). The LOC youth with an educational status below graduation level were found to be more anxious (p = .034) and more depressed (p = .003) than those with the educational status of graduation and above. The youth whose main activity was that of a student were found to be more depressed than the employed and unemployed youth (p = .000). Conclusion: Perceived stress, anxiety, and depression were prevalent among the youth in border villages. These were found to be significantly higher among youth in border villages on the LOC. The findings suggest that education level has a significant impact on the mental health of the youth.