Depression, anxiety, and stress among USMLE aspirants: a cross-sectional survey

Background: The United States Medical Licensure Examination (USMLE) represents a critical step for medical licensure in the United States, requiring extensive preparation that can lead to significant mental health challenges among aspirants. This study aims to explore the prevalence and contributing factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among USMLE aspirants. Methods: This cross-sectional survey investigates the prevalence and contributing factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among USMLE aspirants. We deployed a detailed online and paper-based questionnaire targeting a diverse pool of 321 medical students and graduates globally. The survey incorporated validated scales such as the Perceived Stress Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to evaluate mental health statuses. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS, focusing on demographic correlations and mental health outcomes. Results: A total of 321 participants’ data were collected, out of whom 51.1% ( n = 164) were male and 48.9% ( n = 157) were female. The majority, 91.3% ( n = 293), were International Medical Graduates (IMG), while 8.7% ( n = 28) were American Medical Graduates (AMG). Educational status results show that 38.6% ( n = 124) were undergraduates and 61.4% ( n = 197) were graduates. Participants were interviewed through a validated questionnaire, and 75.1 % ( n = 241) had depression, 71.96% ( n = 231) had anxiety, 4.98% ( n = 16) had low stress, 71.9% ( n = 231) had moderate, and 20.5% ( n = 66) had severe perceived stress. Conclusion: Our study reveals a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among USMLE aspirants, with significant variations across demographic subgroups and chosen medical specialties.