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Religious Coping, Religiosity, Depression and Anxiety among Medical Students in a Multi-Religious Setting

Author

Listed:
  • Benedict Francis

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Jesjeet Singh Gill

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Ng Yit Han

    (Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Chiara Francine Petrus

    (Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Jalan Raja Ashman Shah, Ipoh 30450, Malaysia)

  • Fatin Liyana Azhar

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Zuraida Ahmad Sabki

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Mas Ayu Said

    (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
    Julius Centre University of Malaya, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
    University of Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Koh Ong Hui

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Ng Chong Guan

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Ahmad Hatim Sulaiman

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

Abstract

Medical students are vulnerable to depression and anxiety due to the nature of their academic life. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among medical students and the association between religious coping, religiosity and socio-demographic factors with anxiety and depressive symptoms. A cross sectional design was used for this study. Scales used were the Malay version of the Duke Religious Index (DUREL-M), the Malay version of the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE) and the Malay version Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS-M). 622 students participated in this study. They scored moderately on the organized (mean: 3.51) and non-organized religious (mean: 3.85) subscales of the DUREL, but had high intrinsic religiosity (mean: 12.18). The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms were 4.7% and 17.4% respectively, which is lower than local as well as international data. Islam, negative religious coping and the presence of depressive symptoms were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms. Only the presence of anxiety symptoms was significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Negative religious coping, rather than positive religious coping, has significant association with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Redirecting focus towards negative religious coping is imperative to boost mental health outcomes among medical students.

Suggested Citation

  • Benedict Francis & Jesjeet Singh Gill & Ng Yit Han & Chiara Francine Petrus & Fatin Liyana Azhar & Zuraida Ahmad Sabki & Mas Ayu Said & Koh Ong Hui & Ng Chong Guan & Ahmad Hatim Sulaiman, 2019. "Religious Coping, Religiosity, Depression and Anxiety among Medical Students in a Multi-Religious Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:2:p:259-:d:198574
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anna Rosiek & Aleksandra Rosiek-Kryszewska & Łukasz Leksowski & Krzysztof Leksowski, 2016. "Chronic Stress and Suicidal Thinking Among Medical Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Winnie S Chow & Jan Schmidtke & Adrian Loerbroks & Thomas Muth & Peter Angerer, 2018. "The Relationship between Personality Traits with Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study at One Medical School in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-11, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kathrin Maier & Karol Konaszewski & Sebastian Binyamin Skalski & Arndt Büssing & Janusz Surzykiewicz, 2022. "Spiritual Needs, Religious Coping and Mental Wellbeing: A Cross-Sectional Study among Migrants and Refugees in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Luciano Magalhães Vitorino & Giancarlo Lucchetti & Isabella Fidelis Saba & Júlia Maria Maluf Caldas Anghietti Nalon & Rodolfo Souza de Faria & Clarissa Trzesniak, 2023. "The role of spirituality and religiosity on the suicidal ideation of medical students," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(5), pages 1185-1192, August.
    3. Travis Tian-Ci Quek & Wilson Wai-San Tam & Bach X. Tran & Min Zhang & Zhisong Zhang & Cyrus Su-Hui Ho & Roger Chun-Man Ho, 2019. "The Global Prevalence of Anxiety Among Medical Students: A Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-18, July.
    4. Lindsy Desmet & Jessie Dezutter & Anne Vandenhoeck & Annemie Dillen, 2022. "Religious Coping Styles and Depressive Symptoms in Geriatric Patients: Understanding the Relationship through Experiences of Integrity and Despair," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Izyan A. Wahab & Khang Wen Goh & Zainol Akbar Zainal & Najlaa Siham Mohamed Yusof & Hasniza Zaman Huri & Sabrina Anne Jacob & Muhammad Najib Mohamad Alwi & Rosnani Hashim & Shairyzah Ahmad Hisham & Nu, 2022. "Targeted Primary and Secondary Preventive Strategies for Depression among Malaysian Pharmacy Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, August.
    6. Tahani K. Alshammari & Aljawharah M. Alkhodair & Hanan A. Alhebshi & Aleksandra M. Rogowska & Awatif B. Albaker & Nouf T. AL-Damri & Anfal F. Bin Dayel & Asma S. Alonazi & Nouf M. Alrasheed & Musaad A, 2022. "Examining Anxiety, Sleep Quality, and Physical Activity as Predictors of Depression among University Students from Saudi Arabia during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-18, May.

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