Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Medical Students: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Medical education is not only stressful environment but notoriously rigorous, often predisposing medical students to significant amount of psychological distress. Mental health issues among medical students can contribute negative impact in both personal well-being and professional development.

Aims: To assess the levels of stress, anxiety and depression among medical students and evaluate their associations with socio demographic factors and academic performance.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 143 medical students enrolled at a medical college. Data regarding socio-demographic characteristics, academic satisfaction, and levels of psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression) were collected. Data analysis was performed using statistical software, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant to determine associations between variables.

Results: Of the 143 participants, the majority were aged 21–25 years (65.7%), male (76.9%), and unmarried (97.9%), and resided in hostels (90.2%). Non-clinical students constituted 51.7% of the sample, and 67.8% reported satisfaction with their academic performance. Psychological distress was prevalent: 30.8% experienced stress (ranging from mild to extremely severe), 62.9% suffered from anxiety, and 48.3% reported depression. Extremely severe anxiety was notably high at 18.9%. Bivariate analysis revealed that anxiety levels were significantly associated with marital status (p = 0.022) and the level of education (p = 0.016), with non-clinical students experiencing higher rates of severe (9.5%) and extremely severe (28.4%) anxiety compared to clinical students. No statistically significant associations were observed between potential risk factors and stress (p > 0.05) or depression (p > 0.05). However, descriptive trends indicated higher psychological distress among students with unsatisfactory academic performance, younger age (≤ 20 years), and those in non-clinical years.

Conclusion: Psychological distress particularly anxiety and depression is highly prevalent among medical students, with non-clinical students showing significantly higher vulnerability to severe anxiety. These findings highlight an urgent need for institutional mental health screening, stress management interventions, and robust academic support systems, particularly during the transitional non-clinical years of medical training.