The association between affective temperaments and depressive symptoms in a population of medical university students, Poland

Abstract

Background: Compared to their peers, medical students are more exposed to stress, and many present symptoms of depression, making them a group prone to experiencing mental illnesses. Objective: This study investigates a potential link between the occurrence of symptoms of depression and the dominating type of affective temperament in young people studying at a medical university. Methods: One hundred thirty-four medical students were surveyed using two validated questionnaires; the Polish versions of Beck’s Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). Results: The data analysis revealed a significant link between symptoms of depression and affective temperaments, most significantly in subjects with an anxious temperament. Conclusion: This study confirms the role of various affective temperaments as a risk factor for mood disorders, specifically depression.