FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS LEVELS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Objectives: Medical students are observed to feel depressive, anxious and stressful due to intensive medical education program along with other individual factors. This study aims at investigating the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress levels and their potential determinant among medical students on before and after the exam in newly-established Medical Faculty of Kirsehir Ahi Evran University in Turkey. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on before and after the first Committee Exam by conducting 42-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale with General Information Form that includes questions regarding health, academia and socioeconomic-related factors between October and November 2018. Results: In total, prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress were found as 34.04%, 48.94%, 32.62% and 43.71%, 49.67% and 37.09% on pre and post-exam, respectively. Even though statistically insignificant, Phase-II students had the highest depression (p=0.228 and p=0.512), anxiety (p=0.428 and p=0.083) and stress scores (p=0.125 and p=0.853) on both pre and post exam. Male students were more likely to feel depressed (p=0.044 and p=0.018), anxious (p=0.392 and p=0.209) and stressed (p=0.736 and p=0.977) compared to females in overall in terms of their scores. Depression, anxiety and stress levels were mostly associated with health-related factors either pre or post-exam. Socioeconomic determinant was found to be mostly associated with stress levels. Conclusion: High prevalence of anxiety was observed on both before and after the exam. Depression, anxiety and stress prevalence were found to be increasing on post-exam, therefore academic and social support s stems are su ested to be rovided for medical students