A number of studies have been conducted on anxiety in Sri Lanka. Some of the key findings from these studies include:

• Depression, anxiety, and stress are common among undergraduate nursing students. A study by Rathnayake and Ekanayaka (2022) found that over 50% of undergraduate nursing students in Sri Lanka reported mild to extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. The study also found that self-rated physical health and self-rated mental health were the factors most closely related to negative emotional states.
• Adult ESL learners in Sri Lanka also experience high levels of anxiety, especially those whose L1 is Tamil. A study by Ratnayake and Ekanayaka (2023) found that 88% of adult ESL learners in Sri Lanka reported experiencing anxiety, with students whose L1 was Tamil reporting higher levels of anxiety than students whose L1 was Sinhala. The study also found that students faced anxiety in the form of communication apprehension/anxiety, test anxiety, anxiety regarding negative evaluation, and anxiety in the ESL classroom environment.
• Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and stress than the general population. A study by Wijewardena et al. (2022) found that the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Sri Lanka was higher than the general population. The study also found that functional deterioration, disease activity, and presence of co-morbidities were associated with these mental health issues.
• Sri Lankan undergraduates studying in countries affected by COVID-19 reported significant levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. A study by Amarasingha et al. (2022) found that the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among Sri Lankan undergraduates studying in Russia, India, and Sri Lanka during the COVID-19 pandemic was 11.58%, 11.58%, and 3.16%, respectively. The study also found that online learning facilities and university workload had a significant impact on the anxiety levels of state and non-state university undergraduates in Sri Lanka.
• A study conducted among undergraduate nurses in KIU, Sri Lanka during the COVID-19 pandemic found that the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress were 13%, 7%, and 3%, respectively. The study also found that working experience was associated with depression, anxiety, and stress, while age was associated with the level of anxiety and depression.
• A cross-sectional study conducted among healthcare professionals, military professionals, and the general public in Sri Lanka found that a reasonable proportion of participants experienced depressive symptoms (39.25%) and severe anxiety (12.8%). Military professionals showed depressive symptoms (73.50%) and severe anxiety (32.4%) predominantly. The study also found that only the level of education and professional engagement affected depressive symptoms and severe anxiety. Having a high level of education was a protective factor for depressive symptoms and severe anxiety compared to lower level education, while being a healthcare worker (HCW) and military professional were identified as risk factors for depressive symptoms and severe anxiety compared to the general public.
• A study conducted among undergraduate learners of English language in Sri Lanka found that the anxiety levels of female undergraduate learners and the male undergraduates have no substantial difference; however, it was also disclosed that female learners were more enthusiastic in learning English as a Second Language when compared with the male learners. The study reveals that the learners from the both gender groups possess a significant level of anxiety due to the requirements of the job market and as most of the courses in Sri Lankan universities are carried out in English.