Prevalence and Determinants of Anxiety Among Divorced Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Erbil City, 2025–2026

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions worldwide and represent a major public health concern, while divorce is considered a significant psychosocial stressor that can disrupt emotional stability, social relationships, and financial security. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety and identify the sociodemographic and marital determinants associated with anxiety among divorced individuals in Erbil City, Iraq. This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 7th, 2024, to July 27th, 2025, at the Erbil Appellate Court in Erbil City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included sociodemographic and divorce-related characteristics along with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) to assess anxiety levels. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.0. A total of 374 divorced individuals participated in the study. The results showed that anxiety symptoms were common among participants, with 30.48% reporting normal anxiety, while 28.61% experienced extremely severe anxiety. Significant associations were observed between anxiety levels and several sociodemographic factors, including age group (p = 0.042), education level (p = 0.017), occupation (p = 0.038), physical activity (p = 0.008), sleeping pattern (p = 0.031), financial status (p = 0.004), and smoking status (p = 0.021). Anxiety is highly prevalent among divorced individuals in Erbil City and is influenced by several sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Developing targeted psychological support and community-based mental health interventions may help reduce anxiety and improve well-being among this vulnerable population.