Cross-sectional survey reveals high rates of anxiety and depression in medical students during COVID-19, highlighting the need for institutional mental health support.
Key Points
To evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression and identify associated contributing factors among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cross-sectional survey conducted at a tertiary care hospital among 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-year MBBS students (N=252).
Assessed psychological symptoms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), with associations analyzed using Chi-square tests in SPSS 27.
Among 252 participants (67.5% female, aged 18–25 years), 57.10% reported anxiety and 69.80% reported depression, with the majority exhibiting mild symptom severity.
Levels of depression were significantly associated with students' residential location, academic performance, and engagement in physical activities.