Depressive symptoms, stress, and social support among dental students at a historically black college and university.
OBJECTIVE
The authors measured the prevalence of depressive symptoms among dental students at a historically black college in the United States to determine how depressive symptoms, stress, and social support influence each other within this student population.


METHODS
Dental students (n = 143) completed a self-administered survey to assess depressive symptoms, stress, and social support, using validated and reliable instruments. Participants also reported demographic variables.


METHODS
The authors used multivariable linear regression controlling for potential confounding.


RESULTS
The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 16.7%. There were significantly higher levels of stress for students with depressive symptoms compared with those without such symptoms (p < .01), and students with depressive symptoms had significantly lower levels of social support (p < .01). Results show higher levels of depressive symptomatology to be related to decreased social support at both high and low stress levels (p < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Stress and social support are associated with depressive symptoms among dental students.
Laurence
Brian
B
Department of Restorative Services, College of Dentistry, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.
Williams
Carla
C
Eiland
Derrick
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013335:Students, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities