The evaluation of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate dental students in graduation year in Mainland China: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Mental health issue in dental students has emerged as a worldwide concern. This study aims evaluate the mental health status among undergraduate dental students in their final year in mainland China, and to investigate the association factors behind it, aiming for better understa...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07141-7 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849699680896679936 |
|---|---|
| author | Ying Fang Mingya Yang Wenyan Huang Yijing Zhang Xuguang Gao Yijing Chen Si Meng Sujuan Zeng |
| author_facet | Ying Fang Mingya Yang Wenyan Huang Yijing Zhang Xuguang Gao Yijing Chen Si Meng Sujuan Zeng |
| author_sort | Ying Fang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Mental health issue in dental students has emerged as a worldwide concern. This study aims evaluate the mental health status among undergraduate dental students in their final year in mainland China, and to investigate the association factors behind it, aiming for better understanding of current situation of dental education and provide some perspectives. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using an Internet-based survey platform to collect data from undergraduate dental students in their final year in mainland China. The DASS-21 instrument was used to evaluate mental health outcomes, while a supplementary questionnaire was designed to gather information on their university experience and satisfaction across various aspects. The relationship between socio-educational characteristics and mental health was then analyzed. Results Varying levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were found among investigated participants. The mental problem was found related to gender (p < 0.01), school levels (p < 0.001), and regions (p = 0.001). Regression analysis identified several factors correlating with DASS-21 scores, with concerns about physical appearance being particularly prominent among students. Conclusion Undergraduate dental students in final year in mainland China experience significant mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and stress. Factors including gender, school levels, and regions all showed significant difference in stress, depression, and anxiety. Besides, various academic and social reasons would contribute to that. Social support should pay more attention to mental health in dental students. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ee297ff1c3cf40bea9a2a6e60b2783a2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-ee297ff1c3cf40bea9a2a6e60b2783a22025-08-20T03:18:31ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-04-0125111210.1186/s12909-025-07141-7The evaluation of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate dental students in graduation year in Mainland China: a cross-sectional studyYing Fang0Mingya Yang1Wenyan Huang2Yijing Zhang3Xuguang Gao4Yijing Chen5Si Meng6Sujuan Zeng7Department of Pediatric dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction & Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Medical UniversitySchool of Stomatology, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction & Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Medical UniversitySchool of Economics and Management, South China Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Pediatric dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction & Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction & Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction & Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatric dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction & Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Background Mental health issue in dental students has emerged as a worldwide concern. This study aims evaluate the mental health status among undergraduate dental students in their final year in mainland China, and to investigate the association factors behind it, aiming for better understanding of current situation of dental education and provide some perspectives. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using an Internet-based survey platform to collect data from undergraduate dental students in their final year in mainland China. The DASS-21 instrument was used to evaluate mental health outcomes, while a supplementary questionnaire was designed to gather information on their university experience and satisfaction across various aspects. The relationship between socio-educational characteristics and mental health was then analyzed. Results Varying levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were found among investigated participants. The mental problem was found related to gender (p < 0.01), school levels (p < 0.001), and regions (p = 0.001). Regression analysis identified several factors correlating with DASS-21 scores, with concerns about physical appearance being particularly prominent among students. Conclusion Undergraduate dental students in final year in mainland China experience significant mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and stress. Factors including gender, school levels, and regions all showed significant difference in stress, depression, and anxiety. Besides, various academic and social reasons would contribute to that. Social support should pay more attention to mental health in dental students.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07141-7DASS-21Mental problemDental educationUndergraduate |
| spellingShingle | Ying Fang Mingya Yang Wenyan Huang Yijing Zhang Xuguang Gao Yijing Chen Si Meng Sujuan Zeng The evaluation of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate dental students in graduation year in Mainland China: a cross-sectional study BMC Medical Education DASS-21 Mental problem Dental education Undergraduate |
| title | The evaluation of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate dental students in graduation year in Mainland China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | The evaluation of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate dental students in graduation year in Mainland China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | The evaluation of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate dental students in graduation year in Mainland China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The evaluation of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate dental students in graduation year in Mainland China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | The evaluation of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate dental students in graduation year in Mainland China: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | evaluation of depression anxiety and stress among undergraduate dental students in graduation year in mainland china a cross sectional study |
| topic | DASS-21 Mental problem Dental education Undergraduate |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07141-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yingfang theevaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT mingyayang theevaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT wenyanhuang theevaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT yijingzhang theevaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT xuguanggao theevaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT yijingchen theevaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT simeng theevaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT sujuanzeng theevaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT yingfang evaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT mingyayang evaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT wenyanhuang evaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT yijingzhang evaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT xuguanggao evaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT yijingchen evaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT simeng evaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy AT sujuanzeng evaluationofdepressionanxietyandstressamongundergraduatedentalstudentsingraduationyearinmainlandchinaacrosssectionalstudy |