Prevalence of mental health symptoms and potential risk factors among Austrian veterinary medicine students

Abstract

Although the poor mental health of veterinarians has been reported in different countries, no data exist on mental health in Austrian veterinary students. This study aimed to provide first data on a broad range of mental health indicators in Austrian veterinary students, compare these data with the Austrian general population, and explore factors associated with poor mental health. A total of 29.1% (n = 430; 85.8% female; mean age: 23.14 ± 3.69 years) of the total Austrian veterinary student population (N = 1477 students; 82.1% females) took part in an online survey conducted from November 2022 to January 2023. Indicators of mental health were symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), insomnia (ISI-7), stress (PSS-4), alcohol abuse (CAGE) and disordered eating (SCOFF). Compared to the general Austrian population a higher proportion of veterinary students exceeded the cut-offs for clinically relevant mental health symptoms (P < 0.05). A total of 55.3% of participating veterinary students exceeded the cut-off for moderate depressive symptoms, 52.6% for moderate anxiety symptoms, 20.9% for clinically relevant insomnia symptoms, 79.3% for high-stress symptoms, 22.8% for symptoms of alcohol abuse and 38.6% for symptoms of disordered eating. Multivariable logistic regression including several sociodemographic, health behavior, and study-related variables as predictors revealed that mental health symptoms in veterinary students were associated with female gender, older age, low physical activity, high smartphone usage, and desired specification in small animal or wildlife medicine. In conclusion, Austrian veterinary students experience a high mental health burden. The teaching of coping skills and strategies to improve mental hygiene should be implemented in the curricula of veterinary education to improve mental health in the veterinary profession.

Figure 1

Adjusted odds ratios for clinically relevant symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, stress, alcohol abuse, and disordered eating in Austrian veterinary medicine students (n = 427) compared to a representative sample of the general population (n = 1011), after controlling for gender and age (1 = no difference, > 1 = veterinary students have more mental health symptoms than the general population).

Figure 2

Adjusted odds ratios for clinically relevant symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, stress, alcohol abuse and disordered eating in male (n = 58) compared to female (n = 369) veterinary medicine students (1 = no difference, > 1 = male students have more mental health symptoms than female students).

Figure 3

Adjusted odds ratios for clinically relevant symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, stress, alcohol abuse and disordered eating in veterinary medicine students being physically active at least 3 days per week (n = 221) compared to those being physically active up to 2 days per week (n = 206), (1 = no difference, < 1 = physically active students have less mental health symptoms than physically inactive students).