Comparing mental distress and help-seeking among first-year medical students in Norway: results of two cross-sectional surveys 20 years apart.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate any changes in mental distress levels over 20 years among medical students, as well as the clinical importance of these changes.

Design

Two cross-sectional surveys 20 years apart.

Setting

The surveys were performed at two Norwegian medical faculties in 1993 and 2015.

Participants

One hundred and seventy-four first-year medical students in 1993 were compared with 169 students in 2015.

Main outcome measures

Mental distress (Hopkins Symptom Checklist 5) and Mental Health Problems in Need of Treatment.

Results

Mental distress increased from 1993 to 2015 (p<0.001) due to a larger increase among female students, which seemed to be of clinical importance (Cohen's d=0.63). There was a significant gender difference in mental

SUBMITTER: Ruud N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7430411 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature