Factors associated with anxiety, depression and stress in medical students in the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract: Introduction: Medical school reports a high prevalence of mental disorders, and this situation has been aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the factors associated with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress in medical students during the pandemic. Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. Two questionnaires were applied, the first on sociodemographic, personal, and academic data and the second on the DASS-21 Scale Results: A sample of 274 medical students was investigated. Most participants were female (63.5%) and aged between 21 and 25 years (58.4%). Of those interviewed, 40.1% rarely meet up with friends. Most were dissatisfied with their academic performance (79.9%) and reported a worsening in their quality of life (54.7%). Regarding sociodemographic data, a much higher incidence of depression, anxiety and stress was evidenced in female students (p<0.0001). Considering the personal and clinical data, students who had previously suffered psychiatric illness were more likely to present anxiety, stress and depression (p<0.0001), with the same result reported by those who were already undergoing psychological therapies (p<0.0001). As for academic aspects, in the group that reported having thought about leaving the course, there was a higher incidence of depression, anxiety and stress (p<0.0001), and those who reported a declining quality of life during the pandemic suffered from depression, anxiety and stress more frequently (p<0.0001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated sociodemographic, personal and academic aspects and, consequently, the factors that were associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression and stress in medical students during the Covid-19 pandemic. In view of the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of students, it is essential to adopt specific measures and programs aimed at reducing and preventing mental disorders in the student environment.