Effects of social support on depression and anxiety among standardized training residents

Abstract

Objective To investigate the influence of social support on the depression and anxiety of standardized training residents. Methods Three hundred and eighteen standardized training residents selected by random sampling method from 4 training bases in Shanghai participated in this survey. Results The average score of PHQ-9 was(7.24±5.20), and 67.30%(n=214)of participants had different degrees of depression; the average score of GAD-7 was(5.57±4.55), and 55.03%(n=175)of participants had different degrees of anxiety. One-way analysis of variances showed that standardized training residents who had work experience, longer training years and less salary satisfaction got higher scores in PHQ-9 and GAD-7. Male physicians had higher scores in GAD-7 than female ones. The scores of PHQ-9 (r=-0.390, P<0.01) and GAD-7 (r=-0.376, P<0.01) were both negatively correlated with social support. Regression analysis showed that training years, salary satisfaction, objective social support and the availability of support were significant for predicting the scores of PHQ-9(adjusted R2=0.242, F=17.893), work experience, salary satisfaction, objective social support and the availability of support were significant for predicting the scores of GAD-7(adjusted R2=0.228, F=14.390). After controlled the demographic variables, social support explained the variation rate of 0.119 to the score of PHQ-9 and 0.126 to the score of GAD-7. Conclusion The depression and anxiety of standardized training residents in this study is in a serious situation. Providing the objective social support and the availability of support as well as improving the salary satisfaction of standardized training residents may relieve the depression and anxiety and enhance their mental health. Key words: Physicians; Depression; Anxiety; Standardized training residents