Incidencia de ansiedad, depresión y estrés medida con el cuestionario DASS 21 en estudiantes de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Cuenca matriculados en el período septiembre 2020 - febrero 2021

Mental health is considered a state of well being that allows the individual to develop properly, however, all people can experience mental health problems and this could be associated with the activities they perform (1). Dental students are confronted to multiple stressors, such as, responding to high academic demands, financial problems, greater responsibility for their independence; all of this may increase the risk of developing conditions of stress, anxiety and depression (2, 3). General Objective: Determine the incidence of anxiety, depression and stress measured with the DASS 21 questionnaire in students of the school of Dentistry of the University of Cuenca enrolled in the period September 2020 - February 2021. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in which 199 students of the school of Dentistry of the University of Cuenca, who met the inclusion criteria were surveyed; using the DASS 21 questionnaire as a measurement tool for anxiety, depression and stress. Results: In the 199 participants in relation to stress, anxiety and depression an overall percentage of 62.3%, 73.9% and 55.8% respectively was observed, with anxiety being the most significant for the students of the school of Dentistry of the University of Cuenca. Conclusions: In the present research the DASS 21 questionnaire was a reliable and accurate psychological tool in measuring the incidence of anxiety, depression and stress in dental students of the University of Cuenca.