Anxiety in Medical Students: A Moroccan Overview

Abstract

Introduction: The mental health of medical students as a subject of interest in the scientific community appears to have emerged in the literature from the 1950s. Despite the divergence on the stressful nature of medical studies, students appear to be confronted with a multitude of stress-inducing factors. Notwithstanding their high levels of distress, only a few medical students seem to seek professional help, mainly due to "self-stigmatization". Results: A total of 239 medical students of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat completed the questionnaire. 87% of students reported a history of anxiety symptoms since the beginning of their medical studies, with 57.7% having three or more areas of concern. Age and the years of study were associated with the emergence of anxiety symptoms. The second year of medical school was the only found risk factor for the presence of anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: Within medical students, anxiety appears to be particularly widespread. It causes psychological distress, which has repercussions on well-being, academic performance, and also the quality of care provided. Awareness campaigns should be one of the main focuses of both Moroccan and worldwide public health programs and healthcare professionals to promote the mental health of future caregivers.