title: Mental Well-Being in First Year Medical Students: A Comparison by Race and Gender: A Report from the Medical Student CHANGE Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, authors sought to characterize race and gender disparities in mental health in a national sample of first year medical students early in their medical school experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used cross-sectional baseline data of Medical Student CHANGES, a large national longitudinal study of a cohort of medical students surveyed in the winter of 2010. Authors ascertained respondents via the American Association of Medical Colleges questionnaire, a third-party vendor-compiled list, and referral sampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4732 first year medical students completed the baseline survey; of these, 301 were African American and 2890 were White. Compared to White students and after adjusting for relevant covariates, African American students had a greater risk of being classified as having depressive (relative risk (RR)=1.59 [95 % confidence interval, 1.37-2.40]) and anxiety symptoms (RR=1.66 [1.08-2.71]). Women also had a greater risk of being classified as having depressive (RR=1.36 [1.07-1.63]) and anxiety symptoms (RR-1.95 [1.39-2.84]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the start of their first year of medical school, African American and female medical students were at a higher risk for depressive symptoms and anxiety than their White and male counterparts, respectively. The findings of this study have practical implications as poor mental and overall health inhibit learning and success in medical school, and physician distress negatively affects quality of clinical care.
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1 Veterans Drive, Building 9, Mail code: 152, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Hardeman
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Policy & Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Przedworski
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1 Veterans Drive, Building 9, Mail code: 152, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
authors.forename: Diana J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Phelan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dovidio
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1 Veterans Drive, Building 9, Mail code: 152, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Policy & Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rockwood
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Ryn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001007:Anxiety / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Gender; Medical students; Race