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Milam AJ, Oboh O, Brown Z, Edwards-Johnson J, Terry A, Barajas CB, Simon KM, Furr-Holden CDM. Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety Among Black Medical Students: the Role of Peer Connectedness and Perceived Discrimination. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2022; 9:2180-2187. [PMID: 34599490 PMCID: PMC8486160 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-021-01157-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the association between discrimination, peer connectedness, and mental health symptoms among Black medical students. Data were collected from a convenience sample of Black medical students via an anonymous electronic questionnaire (n = 733) in year 2020. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression and Anxiety forms were used to measure depression and anxiety symptoms. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the association between discrimination, peer connectedness, and mental health symptoms (Mplus 7.3). The majority of the participants were female (80%), approximately 40% were third or fourth year medical school students, and 13% had a clinical diagnosis of depression/anxiety before medical school. About half of the students reported being watched more closely than their classmates, and 66% reported feeling the need to work twice as hard as others to get the same treatment or evaluation. The majority of students reported that their peers were supportive of their academic success (60.7%), and 53% reported that students often or always invited them to social outings. The mean T-score for depressive symptoms was 53.6 (SD = 7.8), and the mean T-score for anxiety symptoms was 58.6 (SD = 8.4). Overall, findings indicated a high prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms among Black medical students, and increased discrimination was associated with more mental health symptoms among males. Additionally, increased peer connectedness was associated with fewer symptoms of anxiety among males and females and fewer depressive symptoms among females. Addressing discrimination among medical students may improve mental health among Black medical students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Milam
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, 21205, USA.
- Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, USA.
| | - Osose Oboh
- College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Flint, MI, USA
| | - Zackary Brown
- Howard University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | - Clara B Barajas
- College of Human Medicine Division of Public Health, Michigan State University, Flint, MI, USA
| | - Kevin M Simon
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - C Debra M Furr-Holden
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, 21205, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, Flint, MI, USA
- College of Human Medicine Division of Public Health, Michigan State University, Flint, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, Flint, MI, USA
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Freeman CD, Guissé NF, Ceasar DR, Fakunle O, Fonseca CA, Fraz F, Gillis RP, Harris NM, Nichols AC, Oboh O, Henry TL. Reflections From Underrepresented in Medicine Applicants on the 2020 Virtual Interview Season. J Grad Med Educ 2022; 14:155-157. [PMID: 35463158 PMCID: PMC9017269 DOI: 10.4300/jgme-d-21-00674.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christian D. Freeman
- Christian D. Freeman, MD, is a PGY-1, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Ndéye F. Guissé
- Ndéye F. Guissé, MD, is a PGY-1, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - D'Andrea R. Ceasar
- D'Andrea R. Ceasar, MD, is a PGY-1, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Health McGovern Medical School
| | - Omolola Fakunle
- Omolola Fakunle, MD, is a PGY-1, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic
| | - Camille A. Fonseca
- Camille A. Fonseca, MD, MPH, is a PGY-1, University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital
| | - Farsam Fraz
- Farsam Fraz, MD, is a PGY-1, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford Medicine
| | - Reba P. Gillis
- Reba P. Gillis, MD, MBS, is a PGY-1, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine
| | - Nile M. Harris
- Nile M. Harris, MD, is a PGY-1, Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Alana C. Nichols
- Alana C. Nichols, JD, MD, is a PGY-1, Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - Osose Oboh
- Osose Oboh, MD, MPH, is a PGY-1, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Tracey L. Henry
- Tracey L. Henry, MD, MPH, MS, is an Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
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