Attitude Toward Mental Illness and Associated Factors among Preclinical Medical Students at One University in Bangkok
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Abstract
Objectives: To investigate attitudes toward mental illness and associated factors among preclinical medical students at one university.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 343 preclinical medical students (years 1 - 3) enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine at a university in Bangkok during the 2024 academic year. Participants were selected using stratified sampling. Data were collected from June 1 to October 30, 2024, through self-administered questionnaires covering demographics, direct and indirect experiences with mental illness, attitudes towards mental illness using the Thai version of the Mental Illness: Clinicians' Attitudes Scale (Medical student version) MICA-2, and mental health status using the 15-item Thai Mental Health Indicator (TMHI-15). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression.
Results: Medical students were 50.7% male, with an average age of 19.2 years. The majority (51%) had mental health scores comparable to the general population. The average MICA-2 score was 43.2 points. Factors associated with attitudes toward mental illness included the following; lower mental health levels were associated with a more negative attitude toward mental illness (β = 2.492, p = 0.012), higher mental health levels were associated with a more positive attitude (β = -4.056, p < 0.001), and having previously experienced suicidal ideations, death wishes, or self-harm thoughts was associated with a more positive attitude toward mental illness (β = -2.225, p = 0.036).
Conclusion: Preclinical medical students in this study generally demonstrated positive attitudes toward mental illness. Mental health status was associated with these attitudes towards. Promoting mental well-being and supporting students who have experienced mental health challenges may contribute to fostering more positive attitudes towards mental illness.
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