Depression, anxiety, and stress among dental students, Kafr El Sheik University, Egypt: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background Dentistry students face many pressures associated with treatment methods, training, and Faculty-level administration. Although several research have assessed the anxiety, stress, and depression of undergraduate students studying dentistry globally, data is limited in Egypt. This work aimed to determine the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in dental students at the Faculty of Dentistry, Kafr El Sheik University, Egypt. Methods This questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study included 400 students at the Faculty of Dentistry, Kafr El Sheik University, Egypt. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling using a physical copy of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS 21) questionnaire. Results Depression level was low in 90 (22.5%), moderate in 215 (53.8%), and high in 95 (23.8%) participants. Anxiety level was low in 134 (33.5%), moderate in 193 (48.3%), and high in 73 (18.3%) participants. Stress level was low in 43 (10.8%), moderate in 206 (51.5%), and high in 151 (37.8%) participants. There was a significant relation between overall DASS 21 and age greater than 20, higher year, female sex, below average financial status, and last year’s regrade of students ( P value < 0.001, 0.008, and 0.041, respectively) and an insignificant relation between overall DASS 21 and residence of students. A significant relation between year and (depression, anxiety, stress, and overall DASS 21) was observed. Conclusions The significant depression, anxiety, and stress prevalence among Egyptian dentistry students is concerning.