Korean J Med Educ.  2013 Jun;25(2):101-111.

Predictors and Longitudinal Changes of Depression and Anxiety among Medical College Students

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Korea. jangmean@hanmail.net
  • 2Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
This longitudinal study was designed to examine the change in depression and anxiety and their predictors over 1 year among premedical and medical students. We compared depression and anxiety from 2 waves and determined the predictive power of personality, narcissism, social comparison, and social reward value on them.
METHODS
Two hundred twenty-six students at a medical school in Seoul were divided into 4 groups according to academic year and completed a questionnaire at the end of 2010 and 2011. The questionnaire included the Zung Depression Scale; Zung Anxiety Scale; scales for social comparison, narcissism, and social reward value; and Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Personality Inventory.
RESULTS
Among first- and second-year medical students, depression and anxiety increased significantly over the previous year. However, irrespective of academic year, depression increased significantly after 1 year. Also, social reward value had a moderating effect. Specifically, among students with low social reward value who entered their first year of medical school, the negative impact of the tendency toward depression and anxiety was amplified compared with older students.
CONCLUSION
Because the predictors of mental health differ between groups, each group must receive specific, appropriate education. Also, because social reward value is important moderating factor of mental health, education and intervention programs that focus on social reward value are needed.

Keyword

Medical students; Mental health changes; Personality; Social reward value; Upward comparison

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Depression
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Mental Health
Narcissism
Reward
Schools, Medical
Students, Medical
Weights and Measures
Surveys and Questionnaires
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