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Predictors of Depression and Anxiety in First-Year Veterinary Students: A Preliminary Report

Correspondence: mhafen{at}vet.ksu.edu

Correspondence: Address correspondence to Dr. McArthur Hafen, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, 112 Trotter Hall, 1700 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA. E-mail: mhafen{at}vet.ksu.edu.

Historically, veterinary medical students’ mental health has rarely been investigated, but recently there has been renewed interest in this topic. The present study evaluated depression and anxiety levels in a cross-sectional investigation of 93 first-year veterinary medical students enrolled at Kansas State University (KSU). During their first semester, students completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Mental Health Inventory's Anxiety Scale (MHI-A). Results indicate that 32% of these first-year KSU veterinary students were experiencing clinical levels of depressive symptoms. Additionally, students reported elevated anxiety scores. Predictors of depression and anxiety levels include homesickness, physical health, and unclear instructor expectations. Areas of intervention with a focus on improving veterinary medical student well-being are discussed.

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