Lifestyle and depression related factors among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional online survey

ABSTRACT The reports of prevalence of depression in Thai medical students were high. The medical student’s lifestyle factors may relate to their depression, especially, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and lifestyle factors related to depression disorder in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1st–5th year medical students, at a Medical University in Southern Thailand, from June to December 2021. Demographic data, the Thai version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Thai-Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were evaluated. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to indicate the significant factors related to depression disorder. There were 162 responders who participated in this study. The prevalence of moderate to moderately severe depression among preclinical and clinical students was 18.1%. The related factors associated with depression disorder comprised living at home (OR 5.12, p-value 0.003), poor sleep quality (OR 3.86, p-value 0.029), medical students who live with families in financial debt (OR 4.31, p-value 0.007). However, regular milk consumption was a significant protective factor with depression (OR 0.19, p-value 0.023). These findings indicated medical students in the first to fifth year had moderate to moderately severe depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. The important factors associated with depression were the place of residence while learning, the family’s financial status and quality of sleep. For a reduction in their depression level, milk consumption should not be neglected.