Middle East Journal of Family Medicine

JOURNAL

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March 2023 - Volume 21, Issue 2
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Editorial
Abdulrazak Abyad

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March 2023- Volume 21, Issue 2

Prevalence of Psychological distress among medical students in different levels of training and other associated factors in Riyadh

Khalid A. Bin Abdulrahman 1, Abdulrahman Omar Ahmed Alomar2, Rayan Ahmed Nasser Alghamdi2, Ahmed Farhan Ayfan Alanazi2, Hamoud Meshal Hamoud Almutairi2, Faisal Abdulaziz Hamdan Altoom2, Hussam Saeed Alzahrani2

(1) Department of medical education, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn SaudIslamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.(2) College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Corresponding author:
Khalid A. Bin Abdulrahman
Professor of Family Medicine & Medical Education, Professor Chair, Dr. AlKholi Chair for Developing Medical Education in Saudi Arabia,Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU)
P.O Box: 7544 - Othman Bin Affan Rd. Al-Nada, Riyadh 13317- 4233Mobile: +966505445384
Email: kab@imamu.edu.sa

Received: February 2023 Accepted: February 2023; Published:March 1, 2023. Citation: Khalid A. Bin Abdulrahman et al. Prevalence of Psychological distress among medical students in different levels of training and other associated factors in Riyadh. World Family Medicine. March 2023; 21(2): 33-40. DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2023.95256060

Abstract

Background: Medical school is commonly perceived as a demanding environment that can negatively affect a student’s academic performance, physical fitness, and mental well-being. According to a study, 23 percent of undergraduate clinical college students in the United States had clinical depression, and 57 percent were under mental stress. Our main aim of this study is to assess the mental health of medical students in different levels of training to see if a certain level plays a higher role in developing mental health issues.

Methodology: This quantitative study is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among medical students in different universities in Riyadh region. The study depended on a self-reported questionnaire that included validated GHQ-12 for the Arab population that was used for assessing psychological distress.

Results: In the current study, we collected data from 617 medical students from four universities in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. Among the students, 56.7 % of the participants were males, and 42.1 % were aged between 20-21 years old, and 91.6 % of them were single. According to the GHQ-12, 368 students were classified as GHQ- cases having symptoms of depression and psychiatric disorders (59.6 %). The prevalence of psychological distress among female students was significantly higher than among males (68.9 % vs. 52.6 %, P=0.000). Furthermore, we found that the prevalence of distress was the lowest among students who reported higher than 30000 SR monthly income (P=0.015). Concerning educational level, the results of the current study did not show any significant difference in the prevalence of distress among students of different levels (P=0.096); however, students of the first level showed the highest level of distress (72.2 %).

Conclusion: The current study confirmed the previous studies on the high prevalence of psychological distress among medical students, which was significantly higher among females, students of low income, and students with lower GPAs. Moreover, the study showed that first-level students were the most affected by psychological distress.

Keywords: Mental health, psychological distress, medical students, medical education,
Saudi Arabia

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