Prevalence of Depressive, Anxiety, and Stress Symptoms Among Dentists at an Academic Institution: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and levels of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms among dentists at an academic institution, and to identify demographic and work-related factors correlated with these psychological conditions.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among full-time dentists teaching at King Saud University (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire that captured demographic and work-related variables, alongside the validated 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multiple linear regression to determine significant associations.

Results

A total of 114 participants completed the questionnaire, of which 86.8% were faculty and the rest non-faculty. The prevalence of depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms was 21.9%, 32.5%, and 34.2%, respectively, predominantly at moderate levels. The prevalence of at least one subscale was 44.7%, and a significant correlation was found for the co-occurrence of the three subscales (p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated three correlates of stress: dissatisfaction, female sex, and choosing a career in academia were significantly associated with the stress scores (p < 0.05). No significant factors were correlated with the anxiety or depression subscales. While females and dissatisfied participants reported higher scores for stress, intending to work in academia as a primary career choice was significantly correlated with lower levels of stress, highlighting the potential importance of intrinsic motivation for academia.

Conclusions

A considerable proportion of participants experience depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, suggesting the need for targeted institutional strategies to support mental well-being, particularly among vulnerable groups.