Depression and hopelessness in pre‐clinical medical students

Abstract

Mental distress seriously affects the quality of life of medical students. Medical students face mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and hopelessness. The pre-clinical years include substantial changes in a student's life, such as moving cities and losing friends, which can complicate an already stressful life, leading to depression and hopelessness. This study aims to determine the levels of depression and hopelessness, and the habits that can affect these levels, among pre-clinical medical students. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using anonymous questionnaires composed of the Beck Depression Scale (BDS), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and questions about sociodemographic and perceived reasons for happiness or unhappiness. We invited pre-clinical medical students to join the study. Particularly during the pre-clinical years, medical students face the adverse effects of changing cities, social circles co-workers RESULTS: A total of 1015 (70.5%) students participated in the study. The prevalence of depression among pre-clinical students was found to be 27.7 per cent and mild levels of hopelessness were found in 54.4 per cent. A meaningful positive correlation was found between the BDS scores and BHS scores of medical students (r=0.535; p<0.0001). The BDS scores of students who were ex-smokers, daily consumers of fizzy beverages and energy drinks, and students with chronic diseases were significantly higher (p<0.05). The BHS scores of the students who were ex-smokers and daily consumers of fizzy drinks, as well as intersex students, had significantly higher scores than the other groups (p<0.05). A healthy social life and effective psychological counselling services are very much needed for mental well-being among medical students in their pre-clinical year.