Anxiety, depression, and academic stress among students attending and not attending professional coaching: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: The increasing emphasis on competitive entrance examinations has led many students to join professional coaching institutes, where rigorous academic schedules may increase psychological distress. This study compared anxiety, depression, and academic stress among coaching and noncoaching students. Aim: To assess and compare anxiety, depression, and academic stress between coaching and noncoaching students. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 300 students aged 13–17 years (150 coaching and 150 noncoaching). Participants were assessed using a semi-structured proforma, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Scale of Academic Stress (SAS). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21. Results: Coaching students had higher mean anxiety (13.74 ± 11.47 vs. 10.89 ± 9.14), depression (14.25 ± 14.09 vs. 9.13 ± 8.46), and academic stress (293.91 ± 80.87 vs. 261.32 ± 65.35) scores than noncoaching students. After Bonferroni adjustment, differences in depression and academic stress remained statistically significant, whereas the difference in anxiety was no longer significant. Anxiety, depression, and academic stress were positively correlated (all P < 0.001). Conclusion: Psychological distress was common in both groups but was significantly greater among coaching students, particularly for depression and academic stress. These findings highlight the need for routine mental health screening and timely psychological interventions for students preparing for competitive examinations.