McKenzie Carly Timmons, Kent Mallory Peyton, Volero Amy
Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, Behavioral and Population Sciences division, School of Dentistry, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
School of Dentistry's class of 2024, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
J Dent Educ. 2022 Dec;86(12):1620-1627. doi: 10.1002/jdd.13080. Epub 2022 Aug 26.
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: This study explored key mental health measures as self-reported by pre-doctoral dental students enrolled in all four years of dental school and their relationships with a year in school and resilience.
This study utilized archival data from the National Collegiate Health Assessment (NCHA) survey administered in Fall 2020. This instrument is a compilation of validated measures assessing a broad spectrum of health-related behaviors, including nutrition, substance use, social relationships, and mental health. The mental health measures explored in this study included validated scales assessing mental distress, suicide behavior risk, psychological well-being, and resilience.
Students in all 4 years of dental school completed the survey (62% response rate). Most students reported high resilience, positive psychological well-being, and moderate mental distress, with mental health challenges spiking in the D2 and D3 years. Resilience emerged as a protective factor for student mental health. Years in school did not retain a significant impact on mental health when controlling for resilience.
Resilience is important in bolstering dental students' mental health. Dental students' mental health challenges increased during the D2 and D3 years. Dental educators may positively influence student well-being by taking measures that foster resilience at the beginning of and midway through dental school.
目的/目标：本研究探讨了牙科专业博士前学生（涵盖牙科学校四年制课程的所有年级）自我报告的关键心理健康指标，以及这些指标与在校年级和心理韧性之间的关系。
本研究使用了2020年秋季进行的全国大学生健康评估（NCHA）调查的存档数据。该工具是一系列经过验证的指标汇编，用于评估广泛的健康相关行为，包括营养、物质使用、社会关系和心理健康。本研究中探讨的心理健康指标包括评估心理困扰、自杀行为风险、心理健康状况和心理韧性的经过验证的量表。
牙科学校四年制课程的所有年级学生均完成了调查（回复率为62%）。大多数学生报告心理韧性较高、心理健康状况良好且心理困扰程度中等，其中在二年级和三年级时心理健康挑战激增。心理韧性成为学生心理健康的一个保护因素。在控制心理韧性后，在校年级对心理健康没有显著影响。
心理韧性对增强牙科学生的心理健康很重要。牙科学生在二年级和三年级时心理健康挑战增加。牙科教育工作者可以通过在牙科学校开学时和中期采取措施培养心理韧性，从而对学生的健康状况产生积极影响。
