Anxiety, Stress and Depression in Overseas Medical Students and its Associated Factors: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study at Jalalabad State University, Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

Background: Stress can be described as a mental state of tension or be concerned brought on by an unpleasant circumstance. Stress is an ordinary human reaction that encourages us to face challenges and dangers in life. According to the WHO, four out of every five college students are contemplating or have attempted suicide. Medical education is considered as demanding because students undergo several psychological transformations. It is estimated that half of all significant adult psychiatric illnesses, including depression, begin before the age of fourteen. 75 % of college students do not seek help for mental health issues. (1)  Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three months period of time from the month September till November 2023, among 150 students of various years at Jalalabad State Medical University using online Google forms. The study was conducted using DASS 21-item questionnaire to assess the level of stress, anxiety, and depression among students. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 software. Ethical approval was taken from the University.  Result: In the study 9% of people reported having a moderate to extremely severe degree of stress, anxiety 27.3% and depression was found among 4% respectively in students. Stress and study of year were substantially correlated. (p = 0.007). Anxiety and extracurricular activities were found to be significiant (p = 0.004). Extracurricular activities and depression were linked. (p = 0.029) and the type of family they belong to (p = 0.015). While stress and depression were shown to be uncommon among medical students, anxiety was found to be more common, which might be related to a variety of factors such as new environments, difficult subjects, complex terminology, etc.  Conclusion: It is important to highlight the points like financial issues, home sick, behaviour of teachers and friends etc would be the stressful elements that might lead to increase the psychological problem among medical student. Following research endeavors in this domain ought to endeavor to address these constraints. In any event, we believe that our results emphasize the necessity of putting policies in place to protect and, where appropriate, improve the mental health and general wellbeing of medical students.