Influence of Habits on Depression in the Peruvian Medical Student: Study in Seven Administrative Regions

Objective: To determine the influence of habits on depression in medical students from 7 Peruvian Regions. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study of a secondary data analysis. The diagnosis of depression was obtained according to the Zung test result, with any level of this condition being considered positive. This was also compared with other social and educational variables that were important according to previous literature. Results: Of the 1922 respondents, 54.5% (1047) were female. The median age was 20 [interquartile range, 18-22] years, and 13.5% (259) had some degree of depression according to the Zung scale. In the multivariate analysis, the frequency of depression increased with the hours of study per day (RPA = 1.03; 95%CI; 1.01-1.04; P<.001) and the student work (RPA = 1.98; 95%CI; 1.21-3.23; P=.006). On the other hand, decreased the frequency of depression decreased on having similar meal schedules (RPA = 0.59; 95%CI; 0.38-0.93; P=.022), and having a fixed place in which to get food (RPA = 0.66; 95%CI; 0.46-0.96; P=.030), adjusted for the year of college entrance. Conclusions: Some stressors predisposed to depression were found (the work and studying more hours a day). On the other hand, to have order in their daily routine decreased this condition (having a set place and times for meals).