Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent psychological burden among females of reproductive age diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Bangladeshi university-going PCOS-diagnosed female students encounter unique stressors that may elevate anxiety symptoms when diagnosed with PCOS. Despite the known association between PCOS and anxiety, there is limited research on the sociodemographic and lifestyle risk factors of GAD in this population. This study examined the key risk factors associated with GAD among PCOS-diagnosed students in Bangladesh. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2024 across 15 public and private universities in Dhaka. A total of 282 female students aged 18-45 years, previously diagnosed with PCOS by a physician, were recruited using non-probability sampling. Data were collected using a structured, expert-validated questionnaire that included demographics, lifestyle, and psychological variables. The generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale was used to assess anxiety. Associations were analyzed using Chi-squared tests, and binary logistic regression was performed to identify significant predictors of GAD (p-value < 0.05). RESULTS: Of the 282 students, logistic regression analysis revealed that mood instability (AOR = 4.18, 95% CI: [1.78-10.6]), having children (AOR = 0.11, 95% CI: [0.01-0.76]), oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) (AOR = 1.99, 95% CI: [1.14-3.48]), skipping meals (AOR = 2.13, 95% CI: [1.18-3.90]), and age (AOR = 1.13, 95% CI: [1.06-1.22]) were significantly associated with GAD. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study highlight key health-related factors, along with lifestyle, psychological, and risk factors that could potentially develop GAD in university students with PCOS. These study outcomes underscore the need for mental health and reproductive support programs in university settings, particularly in resource-limited environments like Bangladesh.