Factors associated with anxiety/depression in medical students during social distancing due to Covid-19

Abstract: Introduction: Medical training involves stressors and possible triggers of mental disorders. Objective: Our study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression in medical students during social distancing measures imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and June 2020 among medical students from higher education institutions in Pernambuco state, Brazil. An online questionnaire was created using Google Forms containing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (EHAD). For statistical analysis, multivariate analysis was performed and the risk ratio (RR) and its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated, considering the significance coefficient (p) <0.05. Result: The variables associated with a higher risk of anxiety signs and symptoms were female gender, decreasing/increasing smoking habit, increasing/not changing drug consumption, decreasing/not practicing leisure, lack of preparation by the university for distance learning, distance learning in place before the pandemic and decline in academic performance compared to previous periods. As for depression, there was a greater risk of increasing/not changing the use of medications, decreasing leisure time, university not being prepared for distance learning, declining academic performance and brown skin colour. Conclusion: Different factors related to the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression were identified in the period of social distancing resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.