• Rachel R Hardeman, Julia M Przedworski, Sara E Burke, Diana J Burgess, Sean M Phelan, John F Dovidio, Dave Nelson, Todd Rockwood, and Michelle van Ryn.
• Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1 Veterans Drive, Building 9, Mail code: 152, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
• J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2015 Sep 1; 2 (3): 403-13.

PurposeIn this study, authors sought to characterize race and gender disparities in mental health in a national sample of first year medical students early in their medical school experience.MethodThis study used cross-sectional baseline data of Medical Student CHANGES, a large national longitudinal study of a cohort of medical students surveyed in the winter of 2010. Authors ascertained respondents via the American Association of Medical Colleges questionnaire, a third-party vendor-compiled list, and referral sampling.ResultsA total of 4732 first year medical students completed the baseline survey; of these, 301 were African American and 2890 were White. Compared to White students and after adjusting for relevant covariates, African American students had a greater risk of being classified as having depressive (relative risk (RR)=1.59 [95 % confidence interval, 1.37-2.40]) and anxiety symptoms (RR=1.66 [1.08-2.71]). Women also had a greater risk of being classified as having depressive (RR=1.36 [1.07-1.63]) and anxiety symptoms (RR-1.95 [1.39-2.84]).ConclusionsAt the start of their first year of medical school, African American and female medical students were at a higher risk for depressive symptoms and anxiety than their White and male counterparts, respectively. The findings of this study have practical implications as poor mental and overall health inhibit learning and success in medical school, and physician distress negatively affects quality of clinical care.

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