Objectives. Healthcare students are subjected to high-stress levels due to different academic, social, and financial stressors. Persistent and severe stress might predispose students to depression, anxiety, and poor sleep quality. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the level of perceived stress among healthcare students and its relation to anxiety, depression, and sleep quality.

Methods. A prospective cross-sectional study using a validated questionnaire was conducted among healthcare students in Saudi Arabia. The 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to evaluate perceived stress, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality. In addition, depression and anxiety were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results. A total of 701 respondents participated in this study. The average age of the students was 20.9 years old, and 59.3 % were female. Almost three-fourths of students perceive themselves as stressed. Around two-thirds were categorized as having borderline/cases of depression or borderline/cases of anxiety. Nearly 80.3% of the healthcare students reported having poor sleep quality. Perceived stress was nearly five times more likely among students with cases of anxiety [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)= 4.83; 95% CI 2.89, 8.06], depression [AOR= 4.79; 95% CI 2.68, 8.53] as compared with those without these conditions. Also, perceived stress was more likely among those with poor sleep quality [AOR= 1.91; 95% CI 1.12, 3.25].

Conclusions. Healthcare students’ mental health and sleep quality are important factors that affect perceived stress and at-risk individuals. Therefore, preventative mental health interventions targeting healthcare students are essential to help improve mental health and cope with stressors in academic education.