Transcultural Determinants of Mental Health in Medical Students

Medical students tend to have a higher burden of mental health problems compared to their peers due to intense academic pressure, demanding workload, and high expectations. Notably, depressive symptoms are more prevalent in medical students than in their age-matched peers, with a 2016 review finding a 27.2% prevalence among 122,356 medical students across 43 countries.

Despite their vulnerability, there’s limited evidence on how social determinats of health (SDOH) relates to depressive symptoms in medical students. To address this gap, our study focuses on medical students from Czechia, Iran, Kenya, and Venezuela. These countries were selected based on convenience due to existing academic collaborations and logistical capabilities, which facilitated efficient survey distribution and data collection. Moreover, they represent a diverse range of socioeconomic and cultural contexts, providing rich insights into how SDOH intersects with mental health issues in varied settings.