Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders and Their Relationship with Mindfulness & Other Determinants: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Clerkship Medical Students

Introduction Medical students are exposed to a stressful studying environment, which can significantly impact their academic performance and overall well-being. This can be further exacerbated with underlying psychiatric disorders. This study aims to measure the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and identify its association with mindfulness and other determinants. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students, examining various demographic and academic factors in relation to psychiatric disorders. Other factors included working status as well as knowledge and practice of mindfulness. Data were analyzed using statistical tests to determine significant associations. Results The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among the studied sample was 11% (76/692) with women reporting significantly higher rates than men (13.4% vs 8%, p = 0.025). Despite being insignificant, rates of psychiatric disorders were found to be higher with working status (10.5% in working group vs. 5.7% in nonworking, p = 0.087). Practicing mindfulness was found to be higher in those diagnosed with psychiatric disorders (11.8% vs 6.3%, p = 0.074) due to its utilization as part of their psychiatric treatment. Other variables, such as nationality, academic year, marital status, and living with family, did not show significant associations. Conclusion The findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive mental health interventions and stress management strategies, including mindfulness training, particularly for women studying medicine. Further research is needed to explore the impact of work-study balance and mindfulness practices on mental health outcomes in this population.