The impact of anxiety and depression on academic performance in undergraduate medical students

Abstract

IntroductionStress associated with medical education, correlated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, has been involved in generating academic performance problems and thus, long-term consequences, such as poor quality of medical care. If anxiety and depression are proved to influence quality of academic achievement, their prevention could lead to better outcomes also in the quality of medical care.ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to analyze if anxiety and depression decrease academic performance in first and second year medical students.MethodsAs a measure of anxiety and depression symptoms we used Zung Self-rating Anxiety score > 36, respectively Zung Self-rating Depression Scale score > 40, in the periods before the examination session, in the first semester (in no-stress conditions). As a measure of academic performance, we have obtained the average grade at the end of the academic year from 254 of the total population of 356 first and second year medical students. Statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS version 16 (Spearman correlations and logistic regression).ResultsAcademic performance decreases inversely in rapport of anxiety (rho = –0.144, P < 0.05) and depression (rho = –0.192, P < 0.05) scores in the period before the examination session. Also, depression in this period predicts low levels of academic performance with average grade in the inferior quarter (grades lower than 7.52) particularly in first year students, irrespective of gender (χ2 = 8.922, P < 0.01, OR = 0.928; IC 95% = 0.864–0.997).ConclusionThese findings suggest the necessity of coming up with prophylactic methods to prevent anxiety and depression especially in first year medical students, as these prove to be factors that impend academic performance.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Mental distress, perceived need and barriers to receive professional mental health care among university students

“…Previous study also reported that only a few numbers of university students receive mental health services for their mental health problems [61]. Mental health treatment gap adversely affects students' academic result [14], health, social life and cognitive outcomes [62]. Our finding is higher than what has been reported in the general population of Ethiopia.…”

“…Prevalence of mental distress is relatively higher among university students compared to the general population [12]. In particular, students in universities worldwide are at higher risk of developing depression and anxiety [13] and these symptoms interfere with their academic performance [14]. A research evidence shows that anxiety and depression are emerging public health problem among university students because of the range of challenging stressors they experience [15].…”

Physical Activity and Academic Performance: The Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem and Depression

“…The psychological symptoms for depression among students include feelings of nervousness, going blank during exams, falling asunder while doing any task, and low interest in difficult subjects. Additionally, academic performance increases or decreases inversely with depression [55]. The importance of investigating depression among university students has been acknowledged by students as well as researchers.…”

Undergraduates’ Academic Performance, Self-Esteem and Perceived Social Support as Determinants of Perceived Stress

“…According to Mihăilescu et al (2016), academic performances are achievements in education such as performance of enrolled subjects, class participation and even the small quizzes in class. Based on tertiary education requirement, failing courses are considered as an academic failure which delays the academic completion (Guerra-Martín , Lima-Serrano and Lima-Rodrí guez, 2017).…”

“…Previous studies have consistently found the correlations between individual-related factor and perceived stress (Opoku-Acheampong, Kretchy, Acheampong, Afrane, Ashong, Tamakloe and Nyarko, 2017;Anuradha, Dutta, Raja, Sivaprakasam and Patil, 2017). Most studies on perceived stress level have been centred in the west (Negga, Applewhite and Livingston, 2007;Mihăilescu, Diaconescu, Donisan and Ciobanu, 2016;Opoku-Acheampong et al, 2017), and there is lacking of empirical evidence is found in Malaysia, particularly undergraduates group. Thus, current study aimed to find out the relationships between academic achievement, self-esteem, perceived social support and perceived stress among both private and public universities undergraduates.…”