Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Factors affecting the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression in undergraduate Indian dental students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Abdul Ahad
. Puneet Chahar 1
. Ekramul Haque 2
. Afshan Bey 2
. Meena Jain 3
. Waseem Raja 4

1 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi, India

2 Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmad Dental College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India

3 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manav Rachna Dental College, FDS, MRIIRS, Faridabad, Haryana, India

4 Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmad Dental College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India,

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The objective was to assess the prevalence and the associated demographic
factors of stress, anxiety, and depression among undergraduate (UG) Indian dental students and
determine whether the pattern is different in government‑run institutions and those managed by
private authorities.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional study was conducted among dental UG students
from five dental colleges. Snowball sampling was used to approach 776 potential participants, resulting
in a complete response from 507 students. The questionnaire consisted of demographic data; year
of study; type of college; accommodation; and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS)‑42.
Descriptive data and inferential statistics were obtained. Chi‑square test was applied for categorical
data to test for significance, and higher analysis was done using multiple linear regression.
RESULTS: Females and males comprised 71.8% (n = 364) and 28.2% (n = 143) of the study
population, respectively. The prevalence of anxiety was highest (66.86%, n = 339), followed by
depression (57.39%, n = 291) and stress (43.99%, n = 223). In terms of severity also, anxiety was
the most prevalent condition as more than one‑fourth of the students presented with severe and
very severe scores in this aspect (25.43%, n = 129) compared to depression (14.39%, n = 73) and
stress (10.09%, n = 51). Regression analysis revealed age as a strong positive predictor for all the
three conditions, while staying in the hostel was a positive predictor for anxiety and stress. Being
female was also an independent predictor for the high prevalence of stress.
CONCLUSION: Stress, anxiety, and depression are highly prevalent among Indian dental students.
Clinical students and interns have a higher prevalence of stress than preclinical students. Age,
being female, and staying in the hostel are positive predictors for the severity of stress. There is no
significant difference between government and private colleges, regarding the prevalence of any
psychological condition.

Keywords

Anxiety
dental education
depression
stress
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 6
July 2021
Pages 1-8

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