Mean Scores of Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Iranian University Students Based on DASS-21: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background and aims: Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder, and students are morepredisposed to depression than other populations. This meta-analysis was conducted to estimate themean depression score in Iranian students based on DASS-21.Methods: The search was carried out using keywords Depression, Student, DASS-21 and Iran indomestic databases, including SID, Medlib, IranMedex, Irandoc, and Magiran. Data were analyzedusing a meta-analysis (random effects model). The heterogeneity of studies was studied using theI2 index. Data were analyzed using the Stata software version 11. DASS-21 had been used in allreviewed studies.Results: The sample size was 3229 people included in 17 studies. The mean depression score inIranian students based on DASS-21 was 9.30 (95% CI: 12.57-6.03), 8.90 in female students (95% CI:4.50-13.29) and 8.45 in male students (95% CI: 4.03-12.86). The mean scores of anxiety and stress instudents were 8.58 (95% CI: 5.95-12.86) and 9.91 (95% CI: 11.28-8.54), respectively.Conclusion: The mean depression score is higher in female students than in male students, and themean score of stress is slightly higher than those of anxiety and depression.