scholarly journals Impact of Family Function and Psychosocial Factors on Development of Anxiety and Depression in First-Year Medical Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (44) ◽  
pp. 3747-3751
Author(s):  
Delila Lisica ◽  
Elma Ramakic ◽  
Amela Dzubur-Alic
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Family Cohesion ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Physical Activities ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Medical Students

BACKGROUND In the first year of studies, students face many changes. On one side is the demanding medical education, and on the other side, is to find a balance with old friends, parents, and a new social environment. These changes may result in psychological symptoms such as anxiety or depression, which is the most commonly, reported mental disorder among students. This study intended to explore the presence of anxiety and depression symptoms in first-year medical students and investigate how family cohesion, flexibility and psychosocial factors influence anxiety and depression. METHODS 149 medical students (76.5 % females and 23.5 % males) took part in a crosssectional study. The survey was conducted via the sociodemographic questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, the short version of Loneliness Scale, Family Adaptability & Cohesion Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. RESULTS The prevalence of moderate and severe anxiety and depression symptoms among medical students was 53.8 % and 19.5 %, respectively. Female students experienced higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to their male colleagues. Students who had physical activities at least once a week showed significantly lower anxiety and depression scores. Anxiety and depression were positively associated with loneliness and negatively associated with perceived social support from family and self-esteem. Depression was also negatively associated with family cohesion and adaptability. Moreover, the results revealed that family cohesion was a strong predictor of the severity of depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that variables such as gender, physical activities, feeling of loneliness, low self-esteem, and perceived social support from family play an important role in the experience of anxiety and depression among medical students. This study raises awareness about mental disorders in medical students, especially anxiety and depression, and invites the placement of these problems among the top priorities of public health policies. KEY WORDS Anxiety; Depression, Family Relations, Students

scholarly journals Impact of Perceived Social Support on the Relationship between ADHD and Depressive Symptoms among First Year Medical Students: A Structural Equation Model Approach

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 401
Author(s):  
Nuntaporn Karawekpanyawong ◽  
Tinakon Wongpakaran ◽  
Nahathai Wongpakaran ◽  
Chiraphat Boonnag ◽  
Sirinut Siritikul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
First Year ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
First Year Medical Students ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with depression among college students, while perceived social support is also associated with depression, especially among young adults. This study aimed to examine to what extent perceived social support mediated the relationship between ADHD symptoms and depressive symptoms. Methods: In total, 124 first year medical students completed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Screener (ASRS), the Patient Health questionnaire-9 and the revised Thai Multidimensional scale of perceived social support reflecting ADHD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and perceive social support, i.e., family members, friends and other significant people, respectively. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the hypothesized mediation model. Results: ADHD symptoms exhibited a significant indirect effect on depressive symptoms via perceived social support. ADHD symptoms initially had a direct effect on depression; thereafter, it reduced to a non-significance effect after perceived social support was added. The total variance explained by this model was 35.2%. The mediation model with family support as a mediator showed the highest effect size. Conclusions: The study highlighted the importance of perceived social support, particularly family support, on depressive symptoms among young medical students experiencing ADHD symptoms. The model suggests promising relationships for further research on ADHD-related depression and potential treatment in the future.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the relationship between perceived social support, coping strategies, anxiety, and depression symptoms among hospitalized COVID-19 patients

2020 ◽  
pp. 009121742098208
Author(s):  
Ali Kandeğer ◽  
Memduha Aydın ◽  
Kürşat Altınbaş ◽  
Alparslan Cansız ◽  
Özge Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Adaptive Coping ◽  
The Relationship

Objective We aimed to evaluate the relationship between perceived social support, coping strategies, anxiety, and depression symptoms among hospitalized COVID-19 patients by comparing them with a matched control group in terms of age, gender, and education level. Method The patient group (n = 84) and the healthy controls (HCs, n = 92) filled in the questionnaire including the socio-demographic form, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced through the online survey link. Results The COVID-19 patients had higher perceived social support and coping strategies scores than the HCs. However, anxiety and depression scores did not differ significantly between the two groups. In logistic regression analysis performed in COVID-19 patients, the presence of chest CT finding (OR = 4.31; 95% CI = 1.04–17.95) was a risk factor for anxiety and the use of adaptive coping strategies (OR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.73–0.99) had a negative association with anxiety. In addition, the use of adaptive coping strategies (OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.79–0.98) and high perceived social support (OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.93– 0,99) had a negative association with depression symptoms. Conclusions Longitudinal studies involving the return to normality phase of the COVID-19 pandemic are needed to investigate the effects of factors such as coping strategies and perceived social support that could increase the psychological adjustment and resilience of individuals on anxiety and depression.

scholarly journals Gender Disparities in Symptoms of Depression After Medical School Exams and Student Coping Strategies for Postexam Depression Symptoms

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 238212052110553
Author(s):  
Taxiarhia J Arabatzis ◽  
Jennifer Marsidi ◽  
Muhammad Ashraf ◽  
Christina Supino ◽  
Ryan Smith
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
First Year Medical Students

CONTEXT Little research exists to determine if medical students experience symptoms of depression after examinations and if symptoms vary by gender. OBJECTIVES Determine if is there a difference between male and female medical students in the number of symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) experienced after exams, as well as which coping strategies are used by students to alleviate depression symptoms. METHODS An anonymous and secure survey was sent via university email to first, second, and third-year medical students after exams for 2 consecutive exam periods. Surveys that were not fully completed were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS A total of 162 out of 550 students completed the survey for a response rate of 30%. Overall, a greater proportion of female students experienced more symptoms of depression compared to males. This was statistically significant for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition symptoms of MDD: depressed mood, anhedonia, changes in sleep, fatigue, and difficulty with concentration after exams compared to their male counterparts. Male first-year medical students experienced higher rates of depression compared to their third-year counterparts. Most students exhibited coping strategies that helped them feel less depressed. The 3 most common coping strategies reported were: reaching out to social support networks, physical activity/exercise, and engaging in hobbies. CONCLUSIONS Both gender and year in a medical school play a role in the number of symptoms of depression experienced after medical school exams. Recognizing that examinations can be a trigger of depressive symptoms in medical students, particularly female and first-year students, has important implications on student mental health. Helping students recognize these symptoms and employ healthy coping strategies may further help alleviate these symptoms. Long-term consequences of experiencing symptoms of depression after recurrent exams in medical school are unknown and require further research.

scholarly journals Comparing mental distress and help-seeking among first-year medical students in Norway: results of two cross-sectional surveys 20 years apart

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e036968
Author(s):  
Nora Ruud ◽  
Lise Tevik Løvseth ◽  
Karin Isaksson Ro ◽  
Reidar Tyssen
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Female Students ◽  
First Year ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
First Year Medical Students

ObjectiveTo investigate any changes in mental distress levels over 20 years among medical students, as well as the clinical importance of these changes.DesignTwo cross-sectional surveys 20 years apart.SettingThe surveys were performed at two Norwegian medical faculties in 1993 and 2015.ParticipantsOne hundred and seventy-four first-year medical students in 1993 were compared with 169 students in 2015.Main outcome measuresMental distress (Hopkins Symptom Checklist 5) and Mental Health Problems in Need of Treatment.ResultsMental distress increased from 1993 to 2015 (p<0.001) due to a larger increase among female students, which seemed to be of clinical importance (Cohen’s d=0.63). There was a significant gender difference in mental distress in 2015 (p=0.007), but not in 1993. Independent factors associated with mental distress in 2015 were female sex (p<0.001), low perceived social support from parents (p=0.023) and low perceived social support from other friends (p=0.048). Additional analyses showed that social support from friends was more important for female students than for their male peers. From 1993 to 2015, there was no significant increase in the proportion of female students reporting previous mental health problems in need of treatment (21.3% vs 27.8%), but we found a significant increase in help-seeking among those in need of treatment over these years from 30.0% (6/20) to 74.3% (26/35; p=0.003).ConclusionsWe found a significant increase in mental distress among female medical students over the past 20 years, but also a promising increase in help-seeking among those in need of treatment. The strong and important association between low social support and mental distress should urge both universities and students to maintain students’ social life after entering medical school.

Relationship between Perceived Social Support and Self-esteem with Satisfaction of Life in Iranian Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Behzadfar ◽  
Narges Arabkhazaeli ◽  
Hassan Khani ◽  
Narges Zamani ◽  
Saeed Zamani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Iranian Students
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