lANXIETY AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS IN MEDICAL STUDENTS OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST, PARAGUAY

Abstract

Introduction: Anxiety in medical students is a global public health problem. In Paraguay, previous studies have reported extremely high anxiety rates. The objective of this study was to analyze the frequency of anxiety symptoms and their characteristics in medical students at the Universidad Nacional del Este (UNE) in 2021. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. A virtual questionnaire (Google Forms) was administered to 59 students from the 1st to the 6th year, recruited through non-probability convenience sampling. Anxiety was measured using the Spanish adaptation of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Sociodemographic data, perceived anxiogenic situations, and extracurricular activities were also collected. Analysis was descriptive, and non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman's Correlation) were used. Results: 59 students participated (71.19 % female; mean age 23.17 ± 3.07 years). The mean global BAI score was 16.58 (SD = 6.15), falling into the «very low anxiety» category (range 0-21). However, item analysis revealed a high prevalence of severe cognitive symptoms: 35.59 % reported “severely” for “Fear of the worst happening,” and 64.41 % reported “moderately” or “severely” for “Unable to relax.” The main triggers were exams (23.31 %), family problems (20.34 %), and economic problems (17.79 %). No statistically significant associations were found between the BAI score and sex (p=0.656) or academic year (p=0.094). Conclusion: The overall mean anxiety score in this sample was surprisingly low compared to national and international reports. Nonetheless, this average masks a high prevalence of specific cognitive symptoms (fear of failure, inability to relax) that indicate significant psychological distress, which should be the focus of student wellness interventions. The low mean score and lack of significant associations are attributed to a probable self-selection bias in the sample.