Prevalence and severity of stress, anxiety, and depression among unemployed workers in Tier 2 & Tier 3 cities of Uttar Pradesh, India: A cross-sectional study with implications for Psychological intervention

Abstract

The present investigation examined the prevalence, severity, and gender- wise distribution of depression, anxiety, and stress among unemployed workers in Uttar Pradesh using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken with 341 unemployed workers aged 17-40 years. The results demonstrate that 57.2% of participants reported depressive symptoms, 53.4% experienced anxiety symptoms and 34.9% experienced stress symptoms. Depression and stress were more common among female workers, while male participants were more likely to experience to anxiety. The findings indicate a substantial burden of psychological distress among unemployed workers, with notable gender-wise differences across the three outcomes. The study underscores the necessity of ensuring access to psychological evaluation, counselling, and employment- oriented support to enhance the psychological well-being of unemployed individuals.