Purpose: Studies show health professional students have a high prevalence of depression. Dental students are especially susceptible due to the burden of the highest debt, exposure to bloodborne pathogens and chronic pain frequency. However, few studies on depression among U.S. dental students exist. This study aims to determine: (1) the difference in depression prevalence between U.S. dental students, the general population, and medical students; and (2) demographic and lifestyle characteristics associated with depressive symptoms in dental students.
Methods: Researchers surveyed dental students in California in 2018 using a 36- item questionnaire. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a validated diagnostic screening tool, measured depressive symptoms suggesting clinically significant moderate to severe depression. Additionally, participants answered demographic and lifestyle characteristics questions. Data analysis included bivariable chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression.
Results: The response rate was 19.1%. The crude depressive symptom prevalence (27.7%) was similar to that of depression in medical students (27.2%) and higher than the U.S. population (7.7%). Bivariable analysis indicated several characteristics significantly associated (P ≤ 0.05) with moderate to severe depressive symptoms in dental students, including experience of injury/pain, financial insecurity, self-reported minority status, perception of meaningful work, and year in school. Multivariable logistic regression modeling estimated 5 well-being categories as significantly associated with higher odds of not having major depressive symptoms.
Conclusions: Prevalence of depressive symptoms among California dental students is similar to depression in medical students and higher than the general population. Results suggest a significant proportion of dental students experience moderate to severe depression and require accessible resources.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jdd.12144 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Higher Levels of Dispositional Mindfulness Are Associated With More Effective Ecological Momentary Intervention Outcomes in Reducing the Frequency of Awake Bruxism Behaviours.
J Oral Rehabil
January 2025
Departamento de Odontologia Restauradora, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Background: Previous research has highlighted the multifactorial nature of awake bruxism (AB), including its associations with stress, anxiety and other psychological factors. Dispositional mindfulness, known for its benefits in enhancing emotional regulation and reducing stress, has not yet been thoroughly investigated in association with AB.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether levels of dispositional mindfulness predict the efficacy of ecological momentary intervention (EMI) in reducing the frequency of AB behaviours.
The Role of Serum Vitamin D Levels and Vitamin D Receptor () Gene Variants on Dental Caries.
Children (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ege University, Izmir 35040, Turkey.
Background/objectives: Vitamin D helps the mineralization of bone, teeth, and other calcified tissues by regulating calcium-phosphate metabolism. The nuclear activation of the vitamin D receptor () gene is essential for the effectiveness of vitamin D. The main objective of this study is to determine the role of vitamin D levels and gene variants in dental caries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDo Academic Libraries Contribute to Students' and Communities' Wellbeing?: A Scoping Review.
Healthcare (Basel)
January 2025
School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
: Academic libraries offer a range of activities and initiatives for their students and community users. However, wellbeing, as a concept in academic libraries, is not very well defined and is poorly understood. The objective of this scoping review was to examine the role of academic libraries in student and community wellbeing, identify the various kinds of activities and initiatives that they carry out to address their wellbeing, and uncover gaps that might require further research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMoral competence of dental students: an explanatory mixed-methods study.
BMC Med Educ
January 2025
Medical Education Department, Educational Development Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the level of four components of moral skills, including moral sensitivity, moral reasoning, moral motivation, and moral courage, among dental students and explore the factors affecting their engagement in moral behavior.
Method: This is an explanatory mixed-method study conducted in two quantitative and qualitative phases. Participants included undergraduate students in clerkship courses in Dentistry schools (n = 180).
Embedding cultural competence in dental education.
Br Dent J
January 2025
Lecturer in Societal and Cultural Transformation in Dental Education, University of Leeds, UK.
Cultural competence plays a pivotal role in dentistry and is increasingly recognised and studied worldwide. As the dental profession evolves to cater to an ever-diverse society, it is imperative that universities consider how they support students in acquiring the skillset for providing culturally sensitive care. Cultural competency in dental education is highly variable globally.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!