Abstract
The psychological condition of medical students may be influenced by the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This study investigated the prevalence and influencing factors of depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality and poor diet in students at Kunming Medical University during the early part of the COVID-19 outbreak. A cross-sectional study was used from a questionnaire survey in February 2020. Of a total of 1,026 study participants, the prevalence of depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and poor diet was, respectively, 22.4, 33.2, and 17.4%. Male students and students with a low degree of focus on COVID-19 had a high risk of depressive symptoms. A high percentage of females and students in the fifth grade, as well as students with high levels of concern about the negative impact of COVID-19 on their education or employment, comprised those with poor sleep quality. Students in the fifth grade and students with high levels of concern about the negative impact of COVID-19 on their education or employment were more likely to report poor diet. This study suggests the importance of monitoring medical students' depressive state during the COVID-19 outbreak, and universities are encouraged to institute policies and programs to provide educational counseling and psychological support to help students to cope with these problems.
Highlights
According to epidemiological data published in Nature, the prevalence of depression in China was reported to be 3.02% [1]
244 (23.8%) students were in the first grade, 519 (50.6%) students were 19–21 years of age, and 1,007 (98.1%) students were located in provinces other than the five provinces of interest (Hubei, Guangdong, Henan, Zhejiang, and Hunan provinces)
A total of 608 (59.3%) students were highly concerned about the negative impact of COVID-19 on their education or employment
Summary
According to epidemiological data published in Nature, the prevalence of depression in China was reported to be 3.02% [1]. The lifetime prevalence of depressive disorders was 6.9%, while the 12-months prevalence of depressive disorders was 3.6% [2]. The prevalence of depressive disorder was 8.8% of the study population among college students in China [3]. The prevalence of depression among medical students in China has been reported with a mean of 32.74%, based on a published meta-analysis [4]. In America, the prevalence rates of depression in college students ranged from 7 to 9% [5], while the prevalence of 6.0–66.5% for depression in medical students was recorded [6]. The number of students at universities who suffered
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