Depression and anxiety among medical students: Examining scores of the beck depression and anxiety inventory and the depression anxiety and stress scale with student characteristics

AbstractTo evaluate the psychological well-being of medical students a relatively new self-report questionnaire (the depression, anxiety, and stress scale) was used alongside an established instrument (the beck depression and anxiety inventories) in a group of medical students. A total of 928 medical students (49.4% female; 50.6% male) participated voluntarily into this cross-sectional study. Students completed the Turkish versions of the depression anxiety stress scale (DASS), beck depression, and anxiety inventories together with a questionnaire about their socio-demographic characteristics. Mild and moderate levels of depression were found in 30.5% and severe and extremely severe levels of depression in 8.5% of students. Mild and moderate levels of anxiety and stress were present in 35.8% of the participants. Depression and anxiety were more frequently reported by female students. Depression was more frequent among first-year students, students in a poor economic situation and those who were not satisf...