Academic and sociodemographic predictors of anxiety and psychological well-being in Mexican medical students. A cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Medical students report higher levels of anxiety than students from other majors. Knowledge about their psychological well-being is scarce. OBJECTIVE: To identify sociodemographic and academic factors that predict the level of anxiety and psychological well-being in Mexican medical students. METHOD: Cross-sectional study of Mexican medical students of first (n = 59), third (n = 43) and fifth semester (n = 59), who answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Psychological Well-being Scale for adults and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale. RESULTS: Females showed higher levels of anxiety (p < 0.01). Anxiety in males was similar in the different semesters (p > 0.05); women of third and fifth semesters were more anxious than those at first semester (p < 0.01). Anxiety and psychological well-being were negatively correlated (p < 0.001). The "Less anxiety, higher level of well-being" and "More anxiety, lower level of well-being" subgroups were characterized, and a logistic regression identified that being a woman (OR = 4.70) and not practicing any religion (OR = 2.49) are predictive factors of higher levels of anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Female medical students constitute a population at risk for higher levels of anxiety and less psychological well-being, which compromises their learning, quality of life and future professional practice.

RESUMEN

INTRODUCCIÓN: Estudiantes de medicina reportan mayor ansiedad que estudiantes de otras carreras. El conocimiento sobre su bienestar psicológico es escaso. OBJETIVO: Identificar factores sociodemográficos y académicos predictores del nivel de ansiedad y bienestar psicológico en estudiantes mexicanos de medicina. MÉTODO: Estudio transversal de estudiantes mexicanos de medicina de primer (n = 59), tercer (n = 43) y quinto semestre (n = 59), que contestaron un cuestionario sociodemográfico, la Escala de Ansiedad de Beck, la Escala de Bienestar Psicológico para Adultos y la Escala de Evaluación de la Cohesión y la Adaptabilidad Familiar. RESULTADOS: Las mujeres presentaron mayor ansiedad (p < 0.01). La ansiedad en hombres fue similar en los distintos semestres (p > 0.05); las mujeres de tercer y quinto semestre fueron más ansiosas que las del primero (p < 0.01). Ansiedad y bienestar psicológico correlacionaron negativamente (p < 0.001). Se identificaron los subgrupos "Menor ansiedad, mayor bienestar" y "Mayor ansiedad, menor bienestar", y una regresión logística identificó que ser mujer (OR = 4.70) y no profesar alguna religión (OR = 2.49) son factores predictores de mayor ansiedad. CONCLUSIONES: Las estudiantes de medicina constituyen una población de riesgo para mayor ansiedad y menor bienestar psicológico, lo que compromete su aprendizaje, calidad de vida y futuro ejercicio profesional.