PREVALENCE OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND STRESS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS, AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health problems are growing issues among college campuses. Improving adolescent mental well-being remains a challenge for most societies. Aim of work: To measure the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among medical students and to identify the different risk factors associated with mood disorders among study participants. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of medical students at Ain Shams University, assessment of psychological mood disorders was done by using Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-42 (DASS-42), alongside a pretested socio-demographic self-administered questionnaire. Results: A total of 240 students participated in the study with a mean age of 20.54 ± 1.38 years. The overall prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress were 64.2%, 77.1%, and 70.4% respectively. Gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), physical activity and screen use affect the severity of depression while age, gender, and physical activity affect the severity of anxiety (p<0.05). Gender and physical activity as an entertainment method affect stress severity among studied students (p<0.05). By Multiple logistic regression analysis; age (OR=0.68, CI=0.05-0.92), BMI (OR=2.58,CI=1.32-5.05), being in clinical years (OR=3.90,CI=1.49-10.17), and use screens for entertainment (OR=1.85, CI=1.01-3.39) affect the occurrence of depression. Practicing physical activity (OR=0.48, CI=0.23-0.99) was protective against anxiety