During the COVID-19 pandemic, dental students in Tunisia experienced increased stress and anxiety, with some experiencing symptoms related to depression, and female students were more likely to experience depression than male students.
Key Findings
Results
Dental students in Tunisia showed elevated mean scores for anxiety, depression, and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mean anxiety score (GAD-7): 11.48 ± 5
Mean depression score (PHQ-9): 13.82 ± 5.63
Mean stress score (PSS-10): 8.20 ± 4.72
Scores were assessed using validated French versions of standardized scales
Results
Female dental students were more likely to experience depression than male dental students.
Statistical significance was reported at P < 0.05
82.5% (302) of respondents were female and 17.5% (64) were male
Mean age of participants was 21 ± 6 years
Total sample size was 366 dental students
Results
A statistically significant difference was found between students' mental health status and all three psychological scale scores.
Statistically significant differences reported between mental health status and GAD-7, PHQ-9, and PSS-10 scores (P < 0.05)
Students under medical care for mental health problems showed statistically significant differences in GAD-7, PHQ-9, and PSS-10 scores (P < 0.001)
Independent t-test and ANOVA were used for continuous data analysis
Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used for categorical data
Methods
The study sample was composed predominantly of Tunisian female dental students across multiple academic grades.
96.7% of participants were Tunisian
25.7% were in the first grade
82.5% (302) were female and 17.5% (64) were male
The survey was conducted between May 2020 and January 2022 using a web-based questionnaire
Chouchene F, Sboui N, Ouni I, Masmoudi F, Baaziz A. (2026). Psychological effects of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown on dental students in Tunisia: An online survey.. La Tunisie medicale. https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i10.5429