Mental health concerns are on the rise in the Philippines, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be attributed to a number of factors, including sex and physical health concerns. However, there has been limited available research on the influence of physical health on mental health, particularly among Filipino female college students. The study on hand specifically investigated the influencing role of physical health concerns, particularly sleep disturbances, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, and respiratory infections, in the experience of depression, anxiety, and stress among female undergraduate students. To be able to achieve the purpose of the study, 971 female undergraduate students from a state university in the Philippines responded to the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale and to the Physical Health Questionnaire. Using the responses of the female undergraduate students, statistical analyses revealed that, as a group, they experienced severe depression, extremely severe anxiety, and moderate stress. Also, it was further revealed that sleep disturbances, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, and respiratory infections significantly predicted stress, while sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems, and respiratory infections significantly predicted depression and anxiety. The results of the study highlight the importance of physical wellness in understanding mental health concerns.

Authors:
Glenn Medallon Calaguas, Pampanga State Agricultural University, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Prof. Glenn Medallon Calaguas, PhD, RGC, LPT, is a Professor VI and the current Director of the Office of Guidance and Testing at Pampanga State Agricultural University, Philippines.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-medallon-calaguas-phd-rgc-lpt-43321246/

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Glenn-Calaguas

Additional website of interest
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=yhYLQ9QAAAAJ&hl=en

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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