Prevalence and sociodemographic factors associated with anxiety symptoms among rural and urban adults in district Rampur, Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Background: Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health conditions globally. However, limited empirical evidence exists regarding the distribution of anxiety symptoms. Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety symptoms among adults in rural and urban areas of Rampur District and to examine their association with selected sociodemographic variables.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 426 adults in rural and urban areas of Rampur District, Uttar Pradesh. Sociodemographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and anxiety levels were assessed using the validated Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent-samples t-tests, and one-way ANOVA were applied to determine associations between variables. A p-value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Overall, 78.4% of participants had GAD-7–defined anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 score ≥5). Mild anxiety was the most common category (43.7%), followed by moderate (26.3%) and severe anxiety (8.4%). Significant associations were observed between anxiety levels and sociodemographic factors, particularly educational attainment, employment status, and place of residence.

Conclusion: Anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent among adults in Rampur District, with increased vulnerability observed among individuals with lower education levels, unemployment, and rural residence.