Mental health of medical students belonging to sexual minorities: A focus on help-seeking behavior in an Italian multicenter survey

6533b7d5fe1ef96bd1264970

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Mental health of medical students belonging to sexual minorities: A focus on help-seeking behavior in an Italian multicenter survey

G. Lo Moro P. Leombruni F. Bert R. Siliquini Primes Collaborating Group A. Corradi M. R. Gualano E. Olivero P. Rossello S. Barello A. Acampora D. Arzani A. Agodi M. Barchitta L. Brunelli S. Brusaferro D. Celotto M. Chironna D. Loconsole V. Baldo S. Cocchio V. Cofini S. D'onofrio M. M. D'errico M. D'errico C. Marzuillo V. Baccolini C. Pasquarella D. Di Fonzo M. Pavia V. Restivo A. Casuccio

subject

Medical student 05 social sciences medical students 050109 social psychology Mental health Sexual minoritie 050105 experimental psychology Help seeking behavior Sexual minority Social support help-seeking behavior sexual minorities Multicenter survey Psychological support help-seeking behavior; medical students; mental health; sexual minorities 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences Psychology mental health General Psychology Depressive symptoms Depression (differential diagnoses)Clinical psychology

description

The aim was to examine social, university, health-related differences among heterosexual and Sexual Minority Medical students (SM-Meds), and explore predictors of help-seeking behavior (i.e., current psychological support and hypothetical university counseling use). A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in Italy (2018). Questionnaires included socio-demographic items and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Chi-squared tests and multivariable regressions adjusted for BDI-II score were performed (sample size = 2513). SM-Meds were 13.9%. SM-Meds with depressive symptoms were 40.5%. Both considering overall and non-depressed students, SM-Meds exercised less and had worst relationships with family and classmates. Psychological support was reported by 6.1% (SM-Meds: 12.8%) and hypothetical counseling use by 42.7% (SM-Meds: 47.1%). Multivariable models showed SM-Meds had significant higher likelihood of psychological support. Therefore, SM-Meds reported higher help-seeking behavior, lower physical activity and social support. Universities should promote more inclusive learning climate and activities to increase exercise, especially among SM-Meds.

year	journal	country	edition	language
2021-04-30	Current Psychology

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01541-w