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Background <p>Medical education is associated with substantial psychological demands, and accumulating evidence indicates a high prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among medical students, in some studies exceeding levels observed in non-medical student populations. However, data from Croatia remain limited, and the role of personality traits as potential vulnerability or protective factors remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among medical students and to examine their associations with personality traits. We hypothesized that higher levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation would be associated with lower levels of emotional stability, conscientiousness, and extraversion.</p> Methods <p>This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at the University of Split between 15 October and 15 November 2025. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and intellect/imagination) were measured using the International Personality Item Pool–50 (IPIP-50).</p> Results <p>A total of 278 students were included (72.3% female; median age 22 years, IQR 20–24). At least mild depressive symptoms were reported by 61.2% of participants, while 9% exhibited moderately severe to severe symptoms. Suicidal ideation was reported by 12.2%. Female students reported higher depression scores compared with males (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Students with suicidal ideation showed significantly lower levels of extraversion (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), conscientiousness (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and emotional stability (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Depression scores were negatively correlated with emotional stability (ρ = −0.468, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), conscientiousness (ρ = −0.28, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), agreeableness (ρ = −0.12, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), and extraversion (ρ = −0.216, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). In multivariable analysis, emotional stability (β = −1.088, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), conscientiousness (β = −0.284, <i>p</i> = 0.007), and extraversion (β = −0.164, <i>p</i> = 0.047) emerged as the strongest independent correlates of depressive symptom severity.</p> Conclusion <p>Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation were highly prevalent among medical students. Depressive symptom severity was negatively associated with several personality traits, particularly emotional stability, conscientiousness, and extraversion, which emerged as the strongest correlates. These findings highlight the relevance of personality traits in understanding depressive symptoms among student population and support the need for further longitudinal research and mental health prevention strategies.</p>

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Symptoms of depression, suicidal ideation, and personality traits in a sample of medical students: a cross-sectional study

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月23日

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  • Stipe Vidović,
  • Niko Morović,
  • Ivanka Maduna,
  • Marija Heffer,
  • Dunja Degmečić,
  • Marija Jelić Vuković,
  • Slavica Kozina,
  • Zenon Pogorelić

摘要

Background

Medical education is associated with substantial psychological demands, and accumulating evidence indicates a high prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among medical students, in some studies exceeding levels observed in non-medical student populations. However, data from Croatia remain limited, and the role of personality traits as potential vulnerability or protective factors remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among medical students and to examine their associations with personality traits. We hypothesized that higher levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation would be associated with lower levels of emotional stability, conscientiousness, and extraversion.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at the University of Split between 15 October and 15 November 2025. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and intellect/imagination) were measured using the International Personality Item Pool–50 (IPIP-50).

Results

A total of 278 students were included (72.3% female; median age 22 years, IQR 20–24). At least mild depressive symptoms were reported by 61.2% of participants, while 9% exhibited moderately severe to severe symptoms. Suicidal ideation was reported by 12.2%. Female students reported higher depression scores compared with males (p < 0.001). Students with suicidal ideation showed significantly lower levels of extraversion (p < 0.001), conscientiousness (p < 0.001), and emotional stability (p < 0.001). Depression scores were negatively correlated with emotional stability (ρ = −0.468, p < 0.001), conscientiousness (ρ = −0.28, p < 0.001), agreeableness (ρ = −0.12, p < 0.05), and extraversion (ρ = −0.216, p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, emotional stability (β = −1.088, p < 0.001), conscientiousness (β = −0.284, p = 0.007), and extraversion (β = −0.164, p = 0.047) emerged as the strongest independent correlates of depressive symptom severity.

Conclusion

Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation were highly prevalent among medical students. Depressive symptom severity was negatively associated with several personality traits, particularly emotional stability, conscientiousness, and extraversion, which emerged as the strongest correlates. These findings highlight the relevance of personality traits in understanding depressive symptoms among student population and support the need for further longitudinal research and mental health prevention strategies.