Assessing the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder in a multicultural medical education setting in Saudi Arabia during the Covid-19 pandemic

Bibliographic Data

ID15524409
AuthorsNader Ashraf (Yale University, corresponding author), Tarek Ziad Arabi (0000-0002-6292-7683, Alfaisal University), Alhomam Dabaliz (Alfaisal University), Bader Abou Shaar (0000-0001-9281-8691, Alfaisal University), Omar Baqal (0000-0002-6090-2028, WinnMed), Omar Javed Baqal, Rand Mohammad Taha (Alfaisal University), Eman Javed Baqal (0000-0001-9657-6255, Alfaisal University), Mohamad Salim Alkodaymi (Alfaisal University), Akef Obeidat (0000-0002-4666-5118, Alfaisal University), Abderrahman Ouban (0000-0002-4311-6295, Alfaisal University)
Year2024
Volume15
Publication date2024-07-19
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1359348
OpenAlexW4400837851
LanguageEN
References cited45

Introduction Mental health among medical students is an area that has been increasingly garnering world-wide attention. Yet, despite this increased attention, research related to anxiety disorders in Saudi Arabia remain limited. This study aims to address this gap by assessing the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as well as explore its association with students’ sociodemographic factors and academic performance among medical students in a Saudi Arabian institute that has a diverse, multicultural student body. Methods The study takes place in a unique educational environment: a privately funded institute in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, with 32% of its student body comprising international students from over 40 countries, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study deploys the use of a survey that was sent to the students at this institute via their institutional emails. A survey containing 33 items assessing demographics, GAD using GAD-7 questionnaire, stress-relief measures, online learning experience during the pandemic, mental disorders, anxiety associated with the pandemic, two open-ended questions, and one item assessing sleep difficulty. Results The results of the survey showed that a significant majority of the responders’ scores in the GAD-7 assessment were in the range of moderate to severe anxiety. The results also suggest that low cGPA and the first academic years are significantly associated with higher GAD-7 scores. Students found severe time constraints, difficult educational content, and lack of psychological support to be major sources of stress. Furthermore, students suggested providing an in-house psychologist, personalized feedback, and guidance on study tactics as methods to reduce anxiety. Conclusion These findings, among others, suggest a need for further studies and research in this field to uncover broader patterns and inform targeted mental health support strategies

Anxiety · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Demographics · Family medicine · Generalized anxiety disorder · Medical education · Mental health · Multiculturalism · Pandemic · Pedagogy · Psychiatry · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Demography · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Medicine · Psychology

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