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Non-Heterosexual Medical Students Are Critically Vulnerable to Mental Health Risks: The Need to Account for Sexual Diversity in Wellness Initiatives.
Suárez, Daniel E; Cardozo, Andres C; Villarreal, Miguel E; Trujillo, Elena M.
Afiliação
  • Suárez DE; School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia.
  • Cardozo AC; School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia.
  • Villarreal ME; School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia.
  • Trujillo EM; School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia.
Teach Learn Med ; 33(1): 1-9, 2021.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32856468
Phenomenon: Mental health problems among medical students are a worrisome issue; recent studies have shown that one-third may be suffering major depressive disorder and one out of ten had suicidal ideation. Few studies have evaluated the association of medical students' mental health and their sexual orientation. This study aimed to evaluate differences in mental health indicators among medical students with diverse sexual orientations at a South American medical school. Approach: This study is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data obtained through an electronic survey. The survey assessed demographics, academic variables, and several mental health scales and indexes, including: World Health Organization Well-being Index, Satisfaction With Life Scale, Family APGAR (Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve), Self-Reporting Questionnaire, Athens Insomnia Scale, Eating Attitudes Test, and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Sexual orientation was assessed using self-identification and responses dichotomized as heterosexual and non-heterosexual. Findings: 554 students completed the survey (response rate: 70%). Mean age was 20.6 years, and the sample was 58.7% women. Eighty-two participants (14.8%) self-identified as non-heterosexual; this group comprised mostly males, fewer of whom lived with their family, and more of whom used loans or scholarships to pay university tuition fees. After adjustment for sex and tuition fee payment, non-heterosexual orientation was significantly associated (adjusted Odds Ratios [aOR] above 3.00) with rating mental health as bad, self-perceiving a need for mental health evaluation/treatment, and reporting last-year use of psychiatric medication. Lastly, non-heterosexual respondents reported more frequent psychiatric symptoms (depression/anxiety scores, suicidal ideation, eating disorder symptoms and substance use) with an aOR between 2.17 and 2.51. Insights: This study suggests that self-identified non-heterosexual medical students exhibit worse mental health outcomes evaluated through validated self-report scales and subjective perception of mental health status. This report specifically indicates that non-heterosexual medical students report family dysfunction more often and have less social support, which serve as additional risk factors. Future studies must assess social support, clarify the impact of family and peer support in mental health problems, and explore students' views on their sexual identity and the burden imposed by experiences of discrimination.
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Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Comportamento Sexual / Estudantes de Medicina / Saúde Mental / Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias / Minorias Sexuais e de Gênero / Transtornos Mentais Tipo de estudo: Diagnostic_studies / Etiology_studies / Observational_studies / Prevalence_studies / Prognostic_studies / Qualitative_research / Risk_factors_studies Aspecto: Patient_preference Limite: Adult / Female / Humans / Male País/Região como assunto: America do sul / Colombia Idioma: En Revista: Teach Learn Med Assunto da revista: INFORMATICA MEDICA / MEDICINA Ano de publicação: 2021 Tipo de documento: Article País de afiliação: Colômbia País de publicação: Estados Unidos

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Comportamento Sexual / Estudantes de Medicina / Saúde Mental / Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias / Minorias Sexuais e de Gênero / Transtornos Mentais Tipo de estudo: Diagnostic_studies / Etiology_studies / Observational_studies / Prevalence_studies / Prognostic_studies / Qualitative_research / Risk_factors_studies Aspecto: Patient_preference Limite: Adult / Female / Humans / Male País/Região como assunto: America do sul / Colombia Idioma: En Revista: Teach Learn Med Assunto da revista: INFORMATICA MEDICA / MEDICINA Ano de publicação: 2021 Tipo de documento: Article País de afiliação: Colômbia País de publicação: Estados Unidos