Predictors of Stress, Anxiety and Depression among Undergraduate Medical Students: A Scenario In A Medical College of Kolkata.

Abstract

Mental disorders are very common among medical students but are neglected till now & its magnitude is rising day by day. A self administered questionnaire based cross sectional study was undertaken to determine the predictors of mental distress, anxiety and depression among the undergraduate students of Medical College, Kolkata, India using General Health Questions (GHQ-12), Zung Self Rating Anxiety Scale, Zung self-rating Depression scale etc. 39.1% students were distressed, 15.6% students were suffering from anxiety & 12% were depressed. multivariate logistic regression result shows that ‘lack of concentration’, ‘pursuing M.B.B.S as per others’ choice’, ‘perception that university examination is hard’, female gender significantly increases the odds of being stressed. Similar factors are contributing to anxiety and depression also. Peer support, having a hobby was found to be protective factors. So it is necessary that regular career counseling & practice of stress coping mechanisms should be made available for the undergraduate medical students at medical college levels.