Depressive symptoms in medical students: prevalence and related factors.
- Author:
Bomi KIM
1
;
Hyerin ROH
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords:
Medical students;
Depression;
Self concept;
Social support
- MeSH:
Breakfast;
Depression*;
Female;
Friends;
Humans;
Leisure Activities;
Male;
Mood Disorders;
Prevalence*;
Self Concept;
Students, Medical*
- From:Korean Journal of Medical Education
2014;26(1):53-58
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of depression and the factors that influence it in Korean medical students. METHODS: We evaluated depression in 122 first- and second-year medical students in December 2011 using the Korean Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI). Sixteen potential factors were considered: gender, class year, grade point average, breakfast habits, residence type, leisure activity, sleep satisfaction, relationship status, a close friend or a significant other, finances, present health status, history of mood disorders, family history of mood disorders, religion, and self-esteem. RESULTS: The average BDI score was 8.9. There were 80 (65.6%), 16 (13.1%), 15 (12.3%), and 11 (9.0%) students with minimal, mild, moderate, and severe depression, respectively. The group with depressive symptoms comprised males with a total BDI score > or =24 and females with total BDI > or =25 and constituted 9.0% of students. Students in the depressive symptom group had lower self-esteem and lower grade point averages and were more frequently ill, less likely to be in a relationship, and more likely to have a history of mood disorders (p<0.05 for all). In particular, low self-esteem score was an independent factor. CONCLUSION: The BDI scores in our study were similar to those that have been reported in other countries but slightly higher than in other Korean medical and university students. Self-esteem, grade point average, health status, history of mood disorders, family history of mood disorders, and presence of a significant other correlated significantly with depression in medical students.
