Mental Health and Well-Being of Didactic Program in Dietetics Students

Abstract

Objective: To assess the levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness of Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) students in the spring of 2022.

Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to DPD students throughout the US, including the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, stressor measure, University of California, Los Angeles 3-item loneliness measure, and an open-ended item exploring if and which mental health resources students used.

Results: Of respondents (n = 341), many were classified as having levels of depression (47%), anxiety (56%), and stress (52%) above the general population mean. Half (50.2%) met the criteria for experiencing loneliness. The most significant sources of stress/concern were postgraduation plans, including dietetic internships, managing time, self-imposed expectations, dietetics courses, and finances. Of responses to an open-ended item (n = 264), 141 reported using some form of mental health resources in the past year.

Conclusions and implications: About half of DPD students were experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Dietetics educators may share resources DPD students have used to manage their mental health and connect students to supportive resources on campus and in their communities.

Keywords: DASS-21; dietetics education; loneliness; mental health.