Male Mental Health Among Medical Students at ANMC Lahore: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Depression is highly prevalent among university students globally, with medical students identified as a particularly vulnerable group. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, including financial dependence and smoking, are proposed risk factors for depressive symptoms, yet their roles remain underexplored among male medical students in Pakistan.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and predictors of depressive symptoms among male medical students at ANMC, a constituent college of Superior University, Lahore.

Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study included 312 male undergraduate medical students aged ≥18 years. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, including sociodemographic/lifestyle variables and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms (cut-off: PHQ-9 ≥5). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors.

Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 75.3%. Financial dependence (AOR = 2.92; 95% CI: 1.41–6.05) and partial financial independence (AOR = 3.64; 95% CI: 1.38–9.62) were associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms compared to full financial independence. Smokers had significantly greater odds of depressive symptoms compared to non-smokers (AOR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.08–0.59 for non-smokers). No significant associations were observed for year of study, marital status, student residency, parental education, or physical activity after adjustment.

Conclusion: There is a strikingly high prevalence of depressive symptoms among male medical students in this setting. Financial dependence and smoking were independent predictors of depression. Targeted mental health interventions, financial counseling, and smoking cessation programs are recommended to address these risk factors.