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Suicidal ideation among Italian medical students: prevalence and associated factors from a multicenter study
Paolo Leombruni1, Giuseppina Lo Moro2, Fabrizio Bert2
1Unità di Psicologia Clinica e Oncologica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università degli Studi di Torino, Turin, Italy.
Objectives:
To estimate Suicidal Ideation (SI) prevalence among Italian medical students and explore associated factors.
Methods:
Multicentre cross-sectional study (2018). Students were enrolled through convenience sampling (sample size=2513). Questionnaires included socio-demographic items and Beck Depression Inventory-II, which has an item on SI. A multivariable regression was performed (p-value<0.05 significant).
Results:
SI prevalence was 13.7%. Among students with and without depression SI prevalence was 36.0% and 4.3%. Being female, being in a relationship, good/excellent family cohesion, perceived good economic status were significantly associated with lower SI. Increasing age, bisexual/asexual orientation, psychiatric family history, negative judgment on medical school choice, competitive/hostile climate and unsatisfying friendships among classmates, being worried about not measuring up to the profession significantly increased SI.
Conclusion:
There was a high SI prevalence among Italian medical students, consistently with worldwide data. Demographic, relational, and motivational factors seem to influence SI. Determinants should be further investigated to plan university-level interventions.
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