Shouq Alzarooni, Shamma Almarzooqi, Maha Faghihi
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Mental Health Symptoms among University Students in Gulf Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis included 48 studies (2010–2025) involving nearly 20,000 GCC students. Results showed pooled prevalence rates of 48.1% for depression, 53.4% for stress, and 53.3% for anxiety. The highest levels were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Kuwait reporting the highest depression rates, Oman the highest stress, and Qatar the highest anxiety.
