A Cross-Sectional Study of Psychological and Academic Status among Medical Students

Abstract

This study investigated the current status of medical students’ psychological status (depression, anxiety) and academic adjustment (academic burnout, academic procrastination), analyzed their detection rates, demographic group differences and internal correlations, so as to provide empirical evidence for targeted mental health education and academic support in medical colleges. Using PHQ-9, GAD-7, SBI and BEPS scales, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 729 full-time undergraduates from freshmen to seniors in a clinical medical college. Descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk normality test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were adopted for data analysis. The results showed distinct detection rates of negative emotions and academic maladjustment: the detection rates of moderate and above depression, anxiety, academic burnout and academic procrastination were 11.66%, 8.78%, 41.84% and 50.62% respectively. Significant inter-group differences existed across symptom severity levels. Depression, anxiety, academic burnout and procrastination were significantly positively correlated pairwise (r = 0.470~0.854, p < 0.001). Depression and academic burnout positively predicted anxiety, while anxiety, burnout and procrastination jointly predicted depression. Only 26.9% of students reported clear distress and support demands, and merely 35% of high-risk students were willing to seek help actively, revealing a prominent mismatch between actual needs and help-seeking behaviors. Conclusion: Medical students suffer more severe academic maladjustment than emotional symptoms. Psychological distress and academic problems reinforce each other into a vicious cycle, and most students avoid seeking psychological help. Medical colleges should establish closed-loop mental health warning systems and hierarchical academic support services, deliver precise interventions for different student groups, and popularize mental health knowledge to reduce stigma.