Phycological Distress Among University Students of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the hardest-hit countries of the SARS-CoV-2 "COVID-19" outbreak. Evidence suggests the whole nation is facing a range of mental issues due to COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the level of psychological distress that emerged due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic among university students of Bangladesh. The study comprised quantitative data from 815 university students and qualitative data from 6 in-depth interviews of university students and 2 key informants specialized in education and medical anthropology. The quantitative data transcribed using the Kessler K-10 distress scale. In terms of psychological stress findings, 19.02% of students did not have any psychological distress, 29.20% reported moderate psychological distress, 33.01% reported high psychological distress and 18.77% reported very high psychological distress. The findings indicated those who have shown moderate to severe psychological distress have faced some degree of gender-based violence, economic crisis, and digital deprivation. Based on the findings, the research advocates multifaceted initiatives to reduce gender-based abuse and bridge the digital gap.