The Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Sleep Disorder Among Dental Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Publisher



Moradi S¹ ; Fateh MS¹ ; Movahed E² ; Mortezagholi B² ; Amini MJ³ ; Salehi SA⁴ ; Hajishah H⁵ ; Nowruzi M³ ; Shafiee A^{3, 6}
Source: Journal of Dental Education Published:2024

Abstract

Background: Despite the increasing concern, the literature lacks a comprehensive synthesis of the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances among dental students. Methods: We conducted a systematic review following Cochrane Manual for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and PRISMA guidelines. Our search, spanning databases like Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus, covered data until June 5, 2023. A random effect model was utilized for the meta-analysis. Results: From 508 initially identified articles, 45 studies met eligibility criteria. The pooled prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders among dental students was estimated as follows: depression [38%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 32%–44%; I2 = 98%], anxiety [48%, 95% CI: 41%–55%; I2 = 97.7%], and sleep disorders [31%, 95% CI: 24%–38%; I2 = 85.7%]. Subgroup analyses based on geographical regions and assessment scales revealed significant between-subgroup differences. Meta-regression identified associations between the prevalence of depression and the year of publication and between the prevalence of anxiety and total sample size, participant age, and year of publication. Publication bias assessments demonstrated a lack of significant bias, strengthening the validity of the findings. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances in dental students is significant. This study highlighted the need for targeted interventions and support systems within dental education to alleviate the mental health challenges students face, ultimately ensuring their well-being and competence as future healthcare providers. Further research should explore the effectiveness of interventions in this population. © 2024 American Dental Education Association.