Original Article

Year : 2017| Volume : 2 | Issue : 2 | Page : 57-60

A Study of Association between Depression and Self-esteem among Dental Students of Udaipur

Nilesh Bhanawat, Vijay Maheshwari1, Gunjan Joshi2, Parshad Dhaduk2, Arshdeep Singh1, Ramandeep Singh Gambhir3, Harkiranjot Kahlon4

Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 1 Public Health Dentistry and 4 Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 3 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital, Patiala, Punjab, India, 2 Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA

Abstract

Background:

Depression is a strong mood involving sadness, discouragement, despair, or hopelessness that lasts for weeks, months, or even longer and tendsto have negative and self‐critical thoughts. The purpose of the presentstudy wasto explain the correlation between depression and self‐esteem among dental students of Udaipur.

Materials and Methods:

Three hundred and fourteen students participated in the study. Self‐esteem was estimated using Rosenberg method using 4‐point Likert scale format ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Beck depression inventory is a 21‐question multiple‐choice self‐report inventory and was used for measuring the severity of depression with a 4‐point scale ranging on severity. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate means. T‐test and Pearson’s correlation were used forstatistical analysis. Results: The mean scores of depression and self‐esteem were found to be 9.11 ± 10.11and 20.11 ± 5.17, respectively, and a negative correlation was found between depression and self‐esteem (r = −0.38). The mean score of self‐esteem of male participants was higher, i.e., 22.24 ± 5.16 and the mean depression score was lesser, i.e., 10.12 ± 7.82 and the findings were statistically significant. Conclusion: The present research suggests that low self‐esteem and depression have strong negative correlation. Improving self‐esteem reduces risk of depression regardless of whether the individual is enduring stressful or nonstressful life experiences.

Keywords: Beck depression inventory, correlation, personality, Rosenberg method, vulnerability

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this article: Bhanawat N, Maheshwari V, Joshi G, Dhaduk P, Singh A, Gambhir RS, et al. A study of association between depression and self-esteem among dental students of Udaipur. Int J Orofac Res 2017;2:57-60.