Mental health in dental students from a Public University in Medellín (Colombia) and its related factors

Laura J. Álvarez Rúa

Universidad de Antioquia

Yesica Andrea Carmona Rendón

Universidad de Antioquia

Viviana A. Holguín Vásquez

Universidad de Antioquia

Magally A. Ortiz Parra

Universidad de Antioquia

Sara E. Patiño Arango

Universidad de Antioquia

Sara Vélez Peláez

Universidad de Antioquia

Marta Lucía Martínez Gómez

Universidad de Antioquia

Andrés A. Agudelo Suárez

Universidad de Antioquia

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of signs and symptoms related to stress, depression/anxiety and poor mental health and its association with sociodemographic factors in undergraduate students of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Antioquia.  

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by means of a survey in 205 students (104 women). Variables: sociodemographic, general health, mental health (GHQ-12), depression/anxiety (Zung test), self-perceived stress. Analyses were carried out by sex, by means of a description of variables and crude and adjusted Odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals (aOR- 95%CI) was calculated, by logistic regression, in order to estimate association between variables.  

Results: Prevalence of indicators for men and women were the following (in order): poor mental health 43% and 52%, depression/anxiety 42% and 50% and self-perceived stress 34% and 41% (higher percentages in women). Significant statistically associations were found for men reporting depression/anxiety and stress and low social support (OR 20.94; 95%CI 2.13- 205.81 and OR 5.04; 95%CI 1.01- 25.02 respectively). Also, men and women proceeding from extended-assembled families were more likely to report depression/anxiety (OR: 8.82; 95%CI 1.29- 60.17 and OR: 14.94; 95%CI 1.56- 143.15 respectively).  Women reporting low social support were more likely to report poor mental health, depression/anxiety and stress (OR: 20.72; 95%CI 2.19- 195.73; OR: 15.61; 95%CI 1.68- 144.62 y OR: 30.61; 95%CI 3,08- 304,35 respectively). 

Conclusions: Higher prevalence of signs and symptoms that suggest poor mental health, and differences according to sex and sociodemographic characteristics were found. 

Keywords: Mental Health, Depression, Anxiety Stress, Psychological, Health Surveys

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Published
2019-07-01
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https://plu.mx/plum/a/?doi=10.16925/2357-4607.2019.02.08