지방 의과대학생의 우울 증상 유병율과 관련 요인

Abstract

Objectives : Depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorder and is a major health problem for university students. Although there has been an increasing concern about depression in specific groups such as adolescents or the elderly, the problem of medical student’s depression and depressive symptoms has received relatively little attention. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their related factors among medical students of a provincial city in Korea.

Methods : In March 2014, a total of 874(529 male and 345 female) medical students aged 18 to 30 years were randomly selected to participate in a survey. Subjects were recruited at 3 medical college of two cities in Korea. Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Satisfaction with Life Scale(SLS), health behavior including smoking(Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence), sleep(Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), eating(The Eating Attitudes Test), alcohol(Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and stress(Life Experience Survey) were collected using self-reported questionnaires.

Results : The prevalence of depressive symptoms among medical students was 10.8%. The mean BDI score is 7.34 (SD = 6.10), 9.6% of males and 12.5% of females were above the cutoff score of 16 (probable depression) on the BDI (X2=1.73, p=.188). In stepwise multiple regression analysis, lower quality of life (β=-.234, R2=.227, p< .001), daytime dysfunction due to sleepiness (β=.225, R2=.357, p<.001), history of suicidal attempt(β=.143, R2=.405, p<.001), stress(β=.163, R2=.433, p<.001), sleep disturbance(β=.138, R2=.479, p<.001) were found to be significant relating factors of depressive symptoms in Korean medical students. The depressed students experienced a variety of life stress, especially change of sleep pattern, maladaptation of major, problems of friendship, change of hobbies, change of social life, academic achievement, lack of time.

Conclusion : This study showed considerably high prevalence of depressive symptoms and BDI score in medical students of a provincial city. The findings of this study suggest that early detection of depressive symptoms and intensive mental health promotion program is needed in order to improve medical student’s mental health status.