Volume : 5, Issue : 7, July - 2016

Male Under graduate Medical students perceived more Stress, Anxiety and Depression during the course: A study cross sectional

Vanparia Jenish O, Patel Ashaben A, Shah Nilima D, Dave Kamlesh R, Mehta Ritambhara Y

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;Background: Previous studies show different prevalence of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms among male and female medical students. Aim: A cross sectional study to compare gender wise prevalence of levels of stress in different areas, anxiety and depression among undergraduate students of a Government Medical College.Materials and Methods: A semi-structured Proforma used to collect socio-demographic data, Life Events Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and General Health Questionnaire -28 and FGD with probes on various stress areas.Results and Discussion: 15 (6.9%) male and 10 (5.1%) female students reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, while 19 (8.7%) male and 13 (6.5%) female students reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms.During FGD more male medical students were found having study related stress like assignment difficulties. Their study pattern was &ldquo;studying at exam times only&rdquo; and they spent most of their time in leisure activities than in studies. Male students also felt discriminated on the basis of gender by college professors. Conclusion: It is clear that male medical students had significant academic stress. More male students found difficulty in medical study, and more severe psychiatry morbidity in the form of anxiety and depression. It is useful for all medical colleges to carry out screening and management programs to identify, prevent and eventually reduce stress; as a part of their medical curriculum</p>