Prevalence of anxiety and depression disorders among medical students one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Aims. The aim is to study the incidence rate of anxiety and depressive disorders and their relationship with the everyday activity at the H.M. Berbekov Kabardino-Balkarian State University (KBSU) medical faculty students a year after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a part of a cross-sectional observational study, a survey of 425 students at the Faculty of Medicine was conducted. The average age of the surveyed students was 20.9±2.1 years. The Spielberger-Khanin questionnaire, the HADS anxiety and depression scale, as well as a questionnaire specially developed by the authors to clarify some indicators of students’ activity were used.

Results

The prevalence of high levels of situational anxiety (SA) was 1.4%, personal anxiety (PA) 30.8%, anxiety 29%, depression 21.6%. High levels of SA were statistically significantly more common among students with higher education (p = 0.0417), living in rented apartments (p = 0.0136), countryside residents (p = 0.0005), with debts (p = 0.0122 ); high levels of PA were identified among students who assessed their living conditions as satisfactory (p=0.0001). Clinically pronounced depression was statistically significantly more common among students with higher education (p=0.0258), who assess their living conditions as good (p=0.028), have debts (p=0.0001), employed (p=0.0001) and practiced low physical activity (p=0.0001). Associative relationships were detected between the levels of SA, PA, anxiety, depression and students’ activity parameters included in the study.

Conclusion

The results obtained can be used to improve the academic process and preserve the mental health of the KBSU medical faculty students.

Imprint

Аksana M. Kаrdаngushevа, Diana A. Dzakhmysheva, Milana A. Kardanova, Amina Y. Chanaeva, Marina A. Makoeva, Ilona S. Khagabanova. Prevalence of anxiety and depression disorders among medical students one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cardiometry; Issue 21; February 2021; p.111-118; DOI: 10.18137/cardiometry.2022.21.111118; Available from: https://www.cardiometry.net/issues/no21-february-2022/prevalence-anxiety-depression