Comparing the Mental Health and Some Positive Psychologic Factors Including Happiness, Hope and Spirituality among Students of Medicine in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, during Years of Education

As physicians have a significant role in promoting health of society, it is necessary that physicians themselves not only have suitable level of mental and physical health, but also stay in higher level of positive characteristics of well-being. This study aimed to investigate and compare mental health and some positive psychology factors including happiness, hope and spirituality among students of medicine during years of education. In this cross-sectional study, 332 students of medicine at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, were randomly selected during 2013. The student's spirituality, mental health, happiness, and hope were measured using Elison questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Oxford questionnaire, and Synder questionnaire, respectively. Data were analyzed using t, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Logistic regression tests. The mean scores of Elison questionnaire of Spirituality (90.201 ± 15.678), GHQ-28 questionnaire (27.798 ± 15.678), Oxford questionnaire of Happiness (68.385 ± 17.274), and Synder questionnaire of Hope (23.373 ± 3.154) were calculated. Pearson correlation coefficient showed a statistically significant decrease in Happiness score form primary to final years of medicine. In addition, Pearson correlation coefficient showed a statistically significant relationship between happiness, hope, spirituality and mental health questionnaire and its subscales but there was only significant relationship between Elison questionnaire of spiritual wellness and student's grade point average (GPA). According to significantly decrease of happiness among students during years of education, and significant relationship between happiness, hope, spirituality and mental health, need for more serious attention to these issues in educational planning is necessitated.