Depression and stressful life events among medical students during undergraduate career: Findings from a medical school in South Asia

Abstract

Medical students face significant psychological stress and adverse life events throughout their student career. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of depression among medical undergraduates in a medical faculty in Sri Lanka. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-administrated, validated questionnaire was conducted among 300 undergraduate medical students of the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Prevalence of depression was assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The data were analysed by the Mann-Witney U-test. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Three hundred students participated in the study (male: female: 111: 189). Overall, 19% (male: female: 25:32) of students were identified as depressed. Depression was most common among 1 st year (25%) students followed by final year (20%) and 3 rd year (12%) students respectively. Depression was more common in students who were living in rented rooms compared to those residing in hostels and home (22%, 19.1% and 13.3%, respectively). Depression was less prevalent in students who participated in extracurricular activities than those who did not (11.9% vs 23.6%, P<0.05, Mann-Whitney U-test). There were 2 students with extreme depression. Multivariate analysis identified residency outside the city and adverse life events to be associated with a higher risk of depression and extracurricular activities to be associated with a lower risk. Conclusions: 1 st year and female medical students had a higher prevalence of depression while those who participated in extracurricular activities had lower rates. A system should be established to identify students with depressive features early.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms and its related factors among students at Tra Vinh University, Vietnam in 2018

“…While a study in Nigeria recorded the prevalence of depression among university students was 58.2% measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) [27]. Another survey among medical undergraduates in the Faculty of Medicine in Sri Lanka using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) revealed that the prevalence of depression 19% [28]. Possible explanations for the variation in the prevalence of depression found in this present study and previous studies conducted among university students are likely due to the change in the instruments used.…”

Internet addiction, mental health, and sleep quality in students of medical sciences, Iran

“…This could be because medical students are likely to experience long study hours, stress related to clinical practices,[ 56 ] and pressure from repeated academic evaluations. [ 57 ]…”

Assessment of mental wellbeing of university students in Bangladesh using Goldberg's GHQ‐12: A cross‐sectional study

“…25 Previous research has linked mental health in university students with factors like gender, age, academic year, university type, and sources of personal expenses. [26][27][28] Studies in Bangladesh, Egypt, and Sri Lanka showed that female students are more prone to depression, [26][27][28] whereas older students experience more mental health symptoms. 29 It also rises with the academic year.…”