Fatigue Syndrome among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study on Depression and Anxiety

This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine fatigue syndrome (FS) prevalence and its association with depression and anxiety among medical students in Saudi Arabia.

An online survey was performed using a pretested questionnaire comprising four sections: sociodemographic information, the 11-item Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale. A total of 740 medical students participated in the cross-sectional study.

The study found that 56.4% of the students met the diagnostic criteria for FS, with female students (69.7%) showing higher FS prevalence compared to male students (30.3%). FS was significantly associated with symptoms of depression (r = 0.68, P < 0.001) and anxiety (r = 0.54, P < 0.001). Other factors associated with higher FS scores included higher body mass index, lack of physical activity, and a history of substance use.

FS is highly prevalent among medical students in Saudi Arabia, particularly among females. The association between FS and mental health symptoms underscores the need for targeted interventions to manage FS and its psychological impact in this population.