453-1121-1-ED (1) (1)


International Journal of Research in Counseling and Education  
Volume 05  Number 02  2021 

ISSN: Print 2620-5750 – Online 2620-5769 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24036/00453za0002 

 
Received October 30th, 2021; Revised December 13th, 2021; Accepted December 31th, 2021 

 

   206  

http://ppsfip.ppj.unp.ac.id 
IJRiCE 

 
Depression, anxiety, and stress among first-year students and 
undergraduate students during the Covid-19 pandemic 
 
Nurmina1, Fitri Fahrianti1*, Meri Haryani1, Hera Wahyuni2 
1Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia  
2Universitas Jambi, Indonesia 
 
*Corresponding author, e-mail: fitri.fahrianti@gmail.com  
 

Abstract 
Stress and anxiety are becoming more common and prone to occur among first-year students who 
are undergoing the transition period from high school to university because new learning methods, 
when compared to undergraduate students will be more susceptible to depression due to the 
demands of completing a thesis. This research aims to difference in the level of stress, anxiety, 
depression of the first year and undergraduate students and differences in terms of gender at the 
Department of Psychology, Universitas Negeri Padang during the Covid-19 pandemic. This research 
is quantitative with a comparative study and obtained 592 respondents using stratified random 
sampling. Data collection of an Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-42). The data analysis 
techniques are carried out data analysis requirements with homogeneity and normality tests 
followed by hypothesis testing with t-tests. The result as for the depression variable there were 
significant differences with percentages in the level of first-year students and undergraduate 
students of 22.7% (mild) and 20.2% (extremely severe) respectively. The high prevalence in the first-
year and undergraduate students of college life is alarming. It illustrates the need for primary and 
secondary prevention measures, with development of adequate and appropriate support services for 
this group. 
 
Keywords: Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Covid-19 Pandemic 

 
How to Cite: Nurmina, N., Fahrianti, F., Haryani, M. & Wahyuni, H. (2021). Depression, anxiety, and 
stress among first-year students and undergraduate students during the Covid-19 pandemic. 
International Journal of Research in Counseling and Education, 5 (2): pp. 206-214, DOI:  
https://doi.org/10.24036/00453za0002  

 
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and 
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ©2021 by Author. 

 
Introduction  

Depression, anxiety, and stress in society are considered important indicators of mental health. Stress can 
be interpreted as something that is interconnected between the individual and the environment (Biggs, 
Brough, & Drummond, 2017). Yusoff et al., (2011) stress are associated with anxiety and depression. Gorman, 
Kent, Sullivan dan Coplan (2000) mention that excessive worry about mild things and out of reason are 
symptoms of anxiety disorders.  

The World Health Organization said thirty-five million people suffered from depression in 2016. Then 
WHO said in 2020 depression will become a common and worldwide disease after heart disease. Davison, 
Neale and Kring (2012) stated that depression is a fickle feeling, and characterized by feeling sad, feeling 
useless, withdrawing from the environment, loss of sexual desire, and interest in something. Mental health is 
very important to note so that individuals do not experience stress, anxiety and can even become depressed. 
If these three disorders are already in a fairly severe phase, there will be negative thoughts such as suicidal 
thoughts (Shafitri., 2017). 

In the pandemic era, the Ministry of Education and Culture issued the Implementation of Education Policy 
in the Emergency Period of the Spread of Covid-19 in circular number 4 of 2020. Policies in the form of 
instruction on the learning process are carried out at home for all levels of education, including policies for all 
educators and education to conduct the learning process online, not least for students. Online learning is 
certainly a challenge for every student in the current pandemic period, such as first-year students who have 



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just completed their studies from high school and still do not know how systematic, this can be a stressful 
and fun life event for some first-year students. 

The purpose of the Introduction is to stimulate the reader’s interest and to provide pertinent background 
information necessary to understand the rest of the paper. You must summarize the problem to be addressed, 
give background on the subject, discuss previous research on the topic, and explain exactly what the paper 
will address, why, and how. A good thing to avoid is making your introduction into a minireview. There is a 
huge amount of literature out there, but as a scientist you should be able to pick out the things that are most 
relevant to your work and explain why. This shows an editor/reviewer/reader that you understand your area 
of research and that you can get straight to the most important issues. 

Wong, Cheung, Chan, Ma dan Tang (2006) in their research found that 7915 first-year students in Hong 
Kong are more prone to stress and anxiety, and in this case, gender is also a influencing factor with women 
will be more susceptible to experiencing it compared to men. Undergraduate students have the task to 
complete their studies and obtain a bachelor's degree. Students are required to be able to adapt and complete 
the final task and be able to overcome anxiety so that they can focus on finding a way out of constantly 
thinking about difficulties (Ettman et al., 2020). Increasingly, obtaining a college degree is seen as the key to 
success  (Thurber & Walton, 2015).  

Based on the results of the initial survey conducted by researchers, 48 student participants (26 first-year 
students and 22 undergraduate students). The survey used brief questions related to common symptoms of 
depression, anxiety, and stress according to Lovibond & Lovibond (1995) on the Likert scale. The results of the 
survey showed that students experienced symptoms of stress by 55%. Symptoms that are often experienced 
are students feel headaches, difficulty relaxing, and excessive heartbeat. 57% of college students experience 
anxiety with symptoms that often appear to be difficult to concentrate and often feel restless. Symptoms of 
depression by 58%, symptoms that are often experienced are not eager to do anything, pessimistic about the 
future, experiencing disturbed sleep patterns. 

Various conditions were experienced by each student during the lecture period, both from first-year 
students and final students. First-year students undergo a transition from high school to college, this is also a 
trigger for students to experience stress. Although stress is an inevitable part of life, stress and anxiety are 
becoming more common and prone to occur among first-year students. While undergraduate students will be 
more prone to depression. Undergraduate students will be more worried about the uncertainty of their future 
as they approach graduation as well as the need to find work (Shamsuddin et al., 2013).  Stressors received by 
students are different, such as in first-year students, namely achievement in the form of commutative values, 
relationships with peers, sex differences, sleep quality, financial problems, economics, and culture. While in 
undergraduate students such as pressure to succeed, plans after graduation, financial problems, relationships 
with family, health, body image, gender, economics, and culture, as well as self-esteem and obtaining a 
bachelor's degree are seen as the key to success (Beiter et al., 2015; Orzech, Salafsky, & Hamilton, 2011).  

Several studies raise topics about stress, anxiety, and depression in college students. Research conducted 
by Teh, Ngo, Zulkifli, Vellasamy dan Suresh (2015) final-year students in Malaysia on the watershed-42 scale 
showed the percentage of depression, anxiety, and stress was 55.5%, 30.7%, and 16.6% respectively. The 
findings showed that end-year college students were more prone to depression due to changes in study style 
(composing final assignments/thesis), fearful thoughts of failing thesis exams, social pressures such as 
relationships with peers, dorm friends, financial problems, lack of social support from those closest to them, 
and culture being a predictor of students experiencing depression. 

In line with the results of the Hasanah, Fitri, and Supardi (2020) study, which aims to know the level of 
depression of students at the end of the pandemic era. The study sample numbered 147 undergraduate 
students in Indonesia. The research instrument uses the BDI II questionnaire. The results showed levels of 
depression: 21.1% mild, 17% moderate and 3.4% severe. This indicates that the percentage of final students is 
higher to experience depression. Fullana et al. (2020) the covid-19 pandemic can increase anxiety, and 
depressive symptoms, coping mechanisms such as exercising, relaxing can lower negative feelings. Negative 
feelings can lead to an increased risk of mental health problems, especially depressive symptoms (Ma et al., 
2020).  

Abdallah & Gabr (2014) conducted a study to find out the difference in the influence of stress, anxiety, and 
depression of first-year students at Menoufiya University Medical and to identify related factors. Use the 
stress depression anxiety scale (DASS-21). The percentages of depression, anxiety, and stress in students were 
57.8%, 78.4%, and 63.6% respectively. This suggests that first-year students experience higher levels of anxiety 
and stress. Its findings suggest that female students are more anxious and depressed than male students, 
where to live in rural areas makes students more prone to depression and stress, living apart from parents 
makes students feel lonely which makes students depressed, inability to engage in social activities with 



 
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family, low ability to manage time to do activities, demands (amount and complexity) of material to be 
studied.   

The above research describes the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression of students in different countries 
of different genders and regions or ethnicities. This study shows that first-year students will be more 
susceptible to experiencing stress and anxiety because they are still in the stage of adaptation to the 
systematics of lectures, while undergraduate students with a fairly heavy task load will be more susceptible 
to depression with various conditions behind it. From the above research, it is also illustrated that several 
factors that participate in influencing the level of depression, anxiety, and stress in early-level students are (1) 
gender, (2) residential environment, (3) students who live separately with parents, (4) inability to engage in 
social activities, (5) low ability to manage time to do activities, (6) lecture demands. Furthermore, factors that 
also participate in influencing the level of depression, anxiety, and stress in undergraduate students are (1) 
changes in learning style (composing final assignments/thesis), (2) the thought of fear of failing the thesis 
exam, (3) social pressures such as relationships with peers, dorm friends, (4) financial problems, (5) lack of 
social support from the closest people, (6) culture or residential environment. 

The results of the study that guided researchers in finding novelty based on the results of Teh et al., (2015) 
study on depression, anxiety, and stress of final students showed higher levels of depression, this study only 
examined the influence of the three aspects only while the novelty in the study to be conducted is to 
distinguish the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress and its effect on two categories of first-year students 
and end students,  Researchers' expectations are assumed by knowing these differences, students can 
anticipate or prevent factors that can cause depression, anxiety and stress not only in first-year students but 
also undergraduate students to be able to complete their studies on time. 

While research from Hasanah et al. (2020) only examined depression in late-level students during the 
covid-19 pandemic and used the BDI-II measuring instrument. So the novelty that will be done by researchers 
as a complement to the results of the Abdallah & Gabr (2014) and Hasanah et al. (2020) research is to see the 
difference between depression, anxiety, and stress not only first-year students but also undergraduate 
students, the urgency of this study in addition to supporting the results of previous research as well as 
preventive measures due to the impact of depression, anxiety and stress that occurs in first-year students and 
final students, especially in pandemic times covid-19. 

Another opinion also states that in the pandemic period 40% of people who experience anxiety and 
depressive symptoms are in the early adult age range such as first-year students and undergraduate students 
(Huang & Zhao, 2020). Stress, anxiety, and depression are among the mental health disorders that can change 
a person's way of acting, dealing with stress, connecting with others, making choices, and triggering a desire 
to self-harm or even suicidal thoughts. Mazza et al. (2020) said anxiety and depression are very vulnerable to 
occur in female students both first-year students and undergraduate students, especially at the level of severe 
depression which includes suicide planning. 

Agreeing with the reason for the importance of this study is the results of research that states the levels of 
stress, anxiety, and depression of undergraduate students and first-year students are still in the high category 
(Hyland et al., 2020). From this, it can be seen that only a small percentage of students know and are aware of 
the causes, symptoms, how to cope with stressors. This is the foundation and strong reason this study is done 
to prevent and as a source of knowledge about the early symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress so that 
students can know and even avoid the emergence of more severe risks if experiencing symptoms of stress, 
anxiety, and depression, especially in times like today. 

Through this research is expected to be the first step or screening so that there is no risk of harm for 
students due to the impact and symptoms caused by depression, anxiety, and stress. Based on these thoughts, 
there is a desire of researchers to examine more deeply the depression, anxiety, and stress of first-year 
students and undergraduate students during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Method 

This research study is quantitative with comparative study, Creswell (2009) mentions that the data 
collected in research in the form of numbers and then processed with statistical analysis is called quantitative 
research. The purpose of the research is to explain and describe the differences between depression, anxiety, 
and stress in first-year students and undergraduate students. The population in the study, namely first-year 
students in 2020 numbering 301 people and undergraduate students in 2017 amounted to 291 people, in the 
Department of Psychology, Universitas Negeri Padang. The number of samples in the study was determined 
by the formula Slovin and from the population of 592 college students with Alpha 0.05, the number of 
samples in the study was 238 students. Sample withdrawal is done by stratified random sampling. 



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International Journal of Research in Counseling and Education, Open Access Journal: http://ppsfip.ppj.unp.ac.id 

The instrument used is the researchers make their measuring instrument in the form of an Indonesian 
version of the measuring instrument guided by the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-42) scale 
instrument from Lovibond & Lovibond (1995). The questionnaire consisted of 42 items of statements related 
to depression, anxiety, and stress, with an answer choice using the Likert scale range 0-3. Of the 42 
statements, participantts were asked to choose answers according to perceived over the past week. Here is a 
predetermined table of norms from this measuring tool to categorize levels of stress, anxiety, and depression:. 

Table 1. Norm of DASS-42 (Lovibond & Lovibond 1995) 

 Depression  Anxiety  Stress 
Normal  0-9 0-7 0-14 
Mild 10-13 8-9 15-18 
Moderate 14-20 10-14 19-25 
Severe 21-27 15-19 26-33 
Extremely Severe 28+ 20+ 34+ 

 

Data collection technique by providing a written questionnaire containing a statement to participants 
online through a google form. Before the instrument is distributed to research participants, it will first be 
tested with validation tests and reliable tests. Logical validation test with consideration or judgment 
(judgment) from experts and declared valid, then empirical validity tests are carried out to students. In this 
trial, 58% (33 people) of undergraduate students and 42% (26) of first-year students were found. The 
conclusion of the analysis obtained Corrected Item Total Correlation r hitung > r tabel of 0.254 for df = 59-2 = 
57 participants at Alpha 0.05 then 42 statements were declared valid. Test reliability by looking at Cronbach's 
Alpha value of 0.755 > 0.60, so that according to the criteria or basis of decision making above 42 question 
items is reliable or consistent. Before the hypothesis test is first done test the requirements of analysis with 
the normality test and homogeneity test and then do a hypothesis test with a t-test. 

Results and Discussion 

The characteristics of college students majoring in Psychology who became participant in this study based 
on gender, age, and ethnicity are as follows. 

Table 2. Overview of the Research Subject 

Demographic Data 
2020 2017 

Fr % Fr % 

Gender 
F 
M 

98 
21 

82,4 
17,6 

67 
52 

56,3 
43,7 

Age (year) 

17-19 
20-21 

104 
15 

87,4 
12,6 

  

17-20 
21-24 

  
5 

114 
4,2 

95,8 

Ethnic 

Minang 
Batak 
Jawa 

Melayu 

75 
12 
11 
21 

63,0 
10,1 
9,2 

17,6 

77 
10 
14 
18 

64,7 
8,4 

11,8 
15,1 

 

Based on the table, it can be seen that in first-year students and undergraduate students the highest 
percentage of genders is female with 82.4% and 56.3%. The average age range of first-year students aged 17-
19 years and 21-24 years in undergraduate students and the majority of Minangkabau students with 
percentages of 63% and 64.7% respectively. Ages 17-21 belong to the range of late adolescence and 21-25 
years of early adulthood (Santrock, 2011; Papalia & Feldman, 2014) The age range in late adolescence will 
experience an increasing stage leading to early adulthood, while in the early adult stage is very vulnerable to 
internal and external stressors in college education. 

Stuart & Laraia (2005) said the age and experience possessed by each individual can have an affect  stress 
levels, if this is not overcome will cause the individual to experience other disorders. This is in agreement 
with Khawaja & Duncanson (2008) who mentioned that the younger age group (late adolescence, early 
adulthood) and higher (late adulthood) will be susceptible to depressive symptoms compared to middle 
adulthood. Contrary to the opinion of Zakiyah (2016) who said in the face of stressors someone will do 
coping, where age does not determine a person's coping ability. Other factors such as the environment, 



 
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mindset, and ability are also determinants of how strategies to overcome a person's problems in order to 
overcome if the onset of symptoms from stress and even depression (Krisdianto & Mulyanti, 2015). 

Furthermore, demographic factors that are also included as stressors are the background of the region 
(ethnicity/culture). Based on the results of research on the background of regional/tribal origin 36.9% of first-
year students and 34.9% of undergraduate students come from outside west Sumatra (Minangkabau ethnic). 
This is the reason why ethnics/ethnicities need to be considered, by doing acculturation that aims to be part 
of the dominant culture where students live while still having their home culture as their identity. 
Researchers argue and supported by observations, although currently lectures are conducted online, there are 
some students outside Sumatera Barat who choose to continue to do lectures in Kota Padang. This can be a 
stressor for students during their education and is driven by differences in group acculturation degrees, 
cultural norms, traditions, and social support (Young et al., 2010). 

Before looking for the difference between the three variables, first perform a normality test. The normality 
test, conducted using Kolmogorov Smirnov's one sample test, stated normal scattered data if p>0.05 and 
instead. Based on the normality test, the value p = 0.847 in the distribution of first-year students data and p = 
0.478 in undergraduate student which means the value p> 0.05 indicate normal distribution data. Then test 
homogeneity by looking at the Fempirik < FTeoritik then the data is declared homogeneous. In this study F 
empiric values of 1.90 and F teori 3.92 indicate that Fempirik < FTeoritik so that it can be concluded that the 
variant of the measurement data is homogen. 

Furthermore, hypothesis testing will be conducted in this study using the analysis of independent test 
(independent sample t-test) SPSS 16.0. The testing criteria if the value of Thitung > Ttabel  at the level of 
significance of 5% then the hypothesis is accepted (Ha accepted) means that there is a significant difference, 
conversely if the value of Thitung > Ttabel at the error level of 5% then the hypothesis is rejected (Ha rejected) 
in the sense that there is no difference of significance, can be seen in the table below. 

Table 3. Comparison of grades Thitung and Ttabel variable Stress, Anxiety, Depression of First Years 
Students and Undergraduate Students. 

Variable Sample Group Thitung :  Ttabel Sig. Conclusion 

Stress 
First Year 

Undergraduate 
1,733 < 1,980 

5% 
pada df 

236 

There is no 
difference  

Anxiety 
First Year 

Undergraduate 
-0,202 <  1,980 

There is no 
difference 

Depression 
First Year 

Undergraduate 
4,088 > 1,980 

There is a 
difference 

 

Stress 

Based on the analysis of the T value for hypothesis one there is a difference in stress, anxiety, and 
depression in first-year students and undergraduate students for stress variables seen t hitung value of 1,733 
compared to the value in table t with df = 236 located in the value of t table = 1,980 then the amount of t 
hitung value < t tabel (1,733 < 1,980) so it can be concluded Ha rejected and Ho accepted. Then when viewed 
from the difference in the average score of stress that occurred more dominantly experienced by first-year 
students, which is 18.83 while the average stress score in final students 16.92, this is seen the highest average 
stress score occurred in first-year students, then also seen from the description of the stress score of first-
year students and undergraduate students were in the moderate category of 28.6%. 

Based on the results of research on the level of stress of first-year students and undergraduate students 
there is no difference, this is supported by the results of research Adryana et al., (2020) regarding the level of 
stress to the level of education shows that the average new, middle and undergraduate students experience 
moderate levels of stress. In the process of working on the thesis, most students in the thesis process 
experience stress, fear, even frustration and some are reckless suicide included in the causative factors of 
final-level student stress (Muldianto et al., 2015). 

This case includes some manifestations experienced, such as feeling that he became angry because of 
trivial things, tending to overreact to a situation, feeling difficult to relax, easily upset, feeling he has spent a 
lot of energy, impatient when experiencing delays, irritability, feeling difficult to rest, feeling very irritable, 
difficult to calm down if something is upset,  It is difficult to be patient in the face of interference with what is 



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International Journal of Research in Counseling and Education, Open Access Journal: http://ppsfip.ppj.unp.ac.id 

being done, feel restless, unable to forgive anything that gets in the way in completing what is being done, 
feels easily agitated. 

Fatningsaliska et al., (2015) stated to first-year students academic pressures such as a lot of material, 
many exams both block final exams or practicum exams, and deadlines for collecting assignments, in 
addition to extra campus activities such as student organizations are also triggered for the stressor. At the 
time of the current pandemic, lectures were conducted independently and did not do face-to-face in the 
village. So this can also be a predictor of students experiencing stress. Agreed by the results of 
Suwinyattichaiporn & Johnson (2020) research to first-year students in California as many as 907 people, 
during the pandemic it is very rare to communicate with the closest people who usually meet, social support 
is very instrumental in the current pandemic so that it can suppress stressors to experience stress and 
depression. 

Hidayat, et., al., (2013) said that undergraduate students who compile thesis tend to experience various 
obstacles, this will develop towards a negative attitude that can trigger students to experience anxiety in 
pandemic times like now. This is in line with the results of Nurcita & Susantiningsih (2020) research on 
online learning with anxiety levels in 100 undergraduate students, it was found that all students experienced 
anxiety with 88% of students experiencing severe anxiety and 12% of students experiencing moderate levels 
of anxiety. Furthermore, the study also explained that undergraduate students compile thesis due to internal 
and external factors. Mentioned factors that contribute the most are from within (internal), such as how to 
think, solve problems, confidence, manage time or schedule, and motivation. While from the outside 
(external) as well as how the relationship with lecturers, looking for appropriate references, criticism from 
others who are negative, and various demands from the family. 

Anxiety 

The analysis of the T value for the anxiety variable of first-year students and undergraduate students is 
seen the value t hitung -0.202 compared to the table t at df = 236 is located at the value t tabel = 1,980, then t 
hitung  <  t tabel (-0.202 < 1,980) so that it is concluded Ha rejected and Ho accepted. Judging from the 
average score of freshman anxiety and undergraduate students did not have a difference meaning equally 
influential, namely on first-year students of 15.67 and undergraduate students of 15.99. Anxiety lies in the 
very severe anxiety category of 31.1% for first-year students and 39.5% for undergraduate students. So it can 
be concluded there is no different in the influence of anxiety on first-year students and undergraduate 
students.  

The results of this study are supported by the opinions of Hastuti et al., (2016) during college students 
tend to feel worried caused by various factors. These concerns are sometimes too excessive to make students 
think too hard about certain things so that they have difficulty in controlling emotions that can have an 
impact on daily activities.  

The anxiety response found manifests through several things such as lips often dry, shortness of breath, 
legs feel willing to dislodge, feel themselves in situations that can trigger the onset of anxiety and will feel 
calmer if the situation stops, excessive sweating, fear for no apparent reason, increased heart rate, feeling 
worried about the situation and embarrassing yourself, shaking. Anxiety that is in the category of very heavy 
can also be due to the occurrence of culture shock. Anxiety in this category can be characterized by difficulty 
concentrating in various ways so that you cannot find the source of the cause of the perceived anxiety. In 
addition, the intensity of a dense lecture load can also be a predictor of the emergence of anxiety (Agusmar et 
al., 2019). In online learning today students only interact with social media which causes students to feel left 
behind in interacting with friends. 

The results of the study are supported by Keliat's opinion, et. Al., (2012) which states that the response of 
individuals who experience anxiety includes physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional responses. 
Various feelings of fear are felt such as fear of the environment rejecting the existence of self, fear of the 
trauma of parting with someone, contrary to self-concept, feelings of disappointment that cause frustration if 
not achieved the goal to be achieved, and changes in the role in the environment. Anxiety experienced by 
students during the thesis work arises because there is a fear of the thesis is not in accordance with the 
expected purpose and fear every time faced with a supervisor and afraid to undergo a thesis exam.  

Meanwhile, when viewed from first-year students who are the first time to know the lecture from various 
sides and are required to adapt. Based on the results of the study showed first-year students also experience 
anxiety, with anxiety factors such as a busy lecture schedule so that it is needed to manage time, the material 
studied is very broad and more applicable (Yunita & Subardjo, 2018). Factors trigger anxiety in first-year 
students as well as internal and external, internal such as responsibilities, how eating habits, sleep habits that 
change, and changes in the way of learning. While outside factors such as the academic demands of targeted 



 
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grades, to change how the cognitive response of students that cause students to experience worry is very 
heavy, especially in pandemic times like now (Hallion et al., 2018). 

Depression 

The analysis of the T value for the depression variable of first-year students and undergraduate students is 
seen the value t hitung 4,088 compared to the table t at df = 236 is located at the value t tabel = 1,980, then t 
hitung  >  t tabel (4,088 < 1,980) so that it is concluded Ha accepted and Ho rejected. . If you look at the 
difference in the average score of depression that occurs more dominantly experienced by undergraduate 
students, which is 16.26 while in first-year students 11.23, then the highest average depression score is 
undergraduate students, then also seen from the description of the undergraduate student’s depression 
score is in the extremely severe category of 20.2 % and first-year students by 22.7% in the mild category.  

A person who is depressed will experience cognitive distortions. Look negatively at himself, the 
environment, and the future. This negative view can also occur because it often compares yourself with 
others, and at this time social media provides a considerable opportunity to compare yourself with others 
who make a negative point of view about yourself so that they are depressed (Aziz, 2020). The results of the 
study also found that the level depression of first-year students was at a moderate level of depression while 
in late-level students were at the level of very severe depression, with the manifestations found in students 
characterized by not feeling positive in themselves, feeling like they were no longer strong doing something, 
pessimistic, feeling sad and depressed, losing interest in everything, feeling worthless,  Not enjoying what 
you do, feeling hopeless and sad, not interested in everything, difficulty taking initiative. 

Videbeck, (2011) mentions the factors that cause depression, such as genetics, neurochemistry, 
neuroendocrine, psychodynamics, cognitive theory, social/environmental theory. The steps of thesis 
preparation that must be passed by students in an effort to complete their bachelor's degree require students 
to use cognitive, affective, and action so that the thesis they make is completed according to the specified 
time. Maladaptive coping is the main topic of independent determinants of the occurrence of stress, anxiety, 
and depression in students (Mahmoud et al., 2012). 

Stuart (2007) states that each student responds differently to stressors and the factors behind them are 
different. This shows that in this study in first-year students and undergraduate students the difference is not 
too significant which all students in this pandemic also feel stress, anxiety, and depression. This is evident 
from the results of research that uncover the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression caused by various 
factors. Other factors such as residence, family income, college entrance, relationship status, academic 
achievement, and social status also play an important role as a trigger for a person experiencing stress, 
anxiety, or even depression. But more important is the factor in students, namely how coping skills, self-
concept, and self-esteem possessed by students can help students cope when experiencing symptoms of 
stress, anxiety, and depression (Videbeck, 2011). 

Limitations in this study are done by spreading questionnaires online so that there is a possibility of bias 
caused by the environment around participants. From the data obtained the condition of first-year students 
and undergraduate students majoring in Psychology at Universitas Negeri Padang on average experienced 
stress, anxiety, and depression. Therefore, data from this study can be useful for majors, faculties, and 
universities as a screening of preliminary data and create programs for first-year students and undergraduate 
students related to mental health in the Covid-19 pandemic. For further researchers who want to conduct 
similar studies, researchers are expected to further expand the criteria of the subject and add more complete 
demographic data so as to explore and deepen the research. Then look at the relationships associated with 
first-year students with on-campus activities and end students with thesis writing. In addition, it is 
recommended that research can also pay more attention to aspects and development of theory because the 
variables of depression, anxiety, and stress are variables that are commonly discussed in the realm of 
psychology. 

Conclusion 

Based on hypothesis tests conducted by researchers about the differences in depression, anxiety, and 
stress of first-year students and end-level students in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic, it can be concluded 
that there is no significant difference in stress and anxiety. As for the depression variable, there were 
significant differences in first-year students and undergraduate students. The percentage of stress, anxiety, 
and depression in consecutive first-year students were 28.6% moderate stress, 31.1% extremely severe 
anxiety, and 22.7% mild depression. The percentage of stress, anxiety, and depression in undergraduate 
students of consecutive end-level were 28.6% moderate stress, 39.5% anxiety was extremely severe, and 20.2% 
depression extremely severe. Other factors such as residence, family income, college entrance, relationship 
status, academic achievement, and social status also play an important role as a trigger for a person 



 Nurmina, Fitri Fahrianti, Meri Haryani, Hera Wahyuni            213   
 

 

International Journal of Research in Counseling and Education, Open Access Journal: http://ppsfip.ppj.unp.ac.id 

experiencing stress, anxiety, or even depression. Depression, anxiety and stress have a high detrimental effect 
to individual and society, which can lead to negative outcomes including dropouts, increased suicidal 
tendency, relationship, impaired ability to work effectively, burnout and also existing problems of health care 
provision. With that, there is a need for greater attention to the psychological wellbeing of first years students 
and undergraduate students to improve their quality of life. 

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