Anxiety and depression state and their associated factors of eight-year program medical students at postgraduate stage

Abstract

Objective To investigate the incidence of anxiety and depression in the eight-year program medical student at postgraduate stage, and to analyze the characteristics of anxiety and depression and their influencing factors. Methods Two hundred and thirteen eight-year program medical students at postgraduate stage in Peking University People's Hospital were analyzed by random sampling. Using respectively self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) to investigate the incidence of anxiety and depression, using adolescent self-rating life events checklist, social support rating scale and self-made questionnaire to analysis the influence factors of anxiety and depression. Results The incidence of anxiety in eight-year program medical students at postgraduate stage was 26.8%(57/213). Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors of the anxiety in eight-year program medical students at postgraduate stage included the students comes from the countryside (OR=3.860, 95%CI: 1.656~8.997, P=0.002), professional dissatisfaction (OR=6.293, 95%CI: 1.288~30.744, P=0.023), the more adolescent life events (OR=1.196, 95%CI: 1.126~1.270, P<0.001), learning pressure (OR=1.489, 95%CI: 1.295~1.713, P=0.009) and the less social support (OR=0.871, 95%CI: 0.809~0.936, P<0.001). The incidence of depression in eight-year program medical students at postgraduate stage was 37.1%(79/213). Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors of the depression in eight-year program medical students at postgraduate stage included female (OR=2.495, 95%CI: 1.095~5.683, P=0.03), the first and third years of graduate training (OR=2.770, 95%CI: 1.174~6.536, P=0.02), the more adolescent life events (OR=1.232, 95%CI: 1.141~1.329, P<0.001) and the less social support (OR=0.632, 95%CI: 0.489~0.816, P<0.001). Conclusions The incidence of anxiety and depression are higher in eight-year program medical students at postgraduate stage. The students comes from the countryside, professional dissatisfaction, the more adolescent life events, learning pressure and the less social support are the risk factors of the anxiety in eight-year program medical students at postgraduate stage. Female, the first and third years of graduate training, the more adolescent life events and the less social support are the risk factors of the depression in eight-year program medical students at postgraduate stage. Universities and hospitals should give great insight to the anxiety and depression of the eight-year program medical students, and strengthen the psychological health education and counseling of these students, to improve their physical and mental health. Key words: Eight-year program medical student; Anxiety; Depression; Influencing factor