Evaluation of anxiety, stress, depression and hopelessness levels in clinical dental students of the faculty of dentistry: a cross-sectional study

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BACKGROUND: Dental education demands theoretical knowledge and clinical skills while challenging students’ cognitive and emotional resilience. Academic pressure, financial strain, and limited employment opportunities in Türkiye increase competition and future anxiety. This study assessed depression, anxiety, stress, and hopelessness among clinical dental students and examined related demographic and academic factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in December 2024 with 141 fourth- and fifth-year dental students at Mersin University. Data were collected using validated Turkish versions of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). Descriptive statistics, independent-sample t tests, one-way ANOVA, chi-square tests, and Pearson correlations with Bonferroni correction were applied (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Moderate depression was found in 32.6% of students, extremely severe anxiety in 27.7%, and mild hopelessness in 49.6%. Female students had significantly higher anxiety and stress scores than males. Students dissatisfied with their program or perceiving their education as inadequate showed higher depression, stress, and hopelessness. Grade point average was positively associated with program satisfaction. Hopelessness correlated positively with depression and moderately with anxiety and stress. CONCLUSION: Clinical dental students experience substantial psychological distress linked to educational satisfaction, perceived training adequacy, and employment-related uncertainty. Strengthening dental education with structured psychological counseling, resilience training, and career-planning support is essential to protect mental health and facilitate the transition to professional practice. At the national level, reviewing dental school intake policies to help align graduate numbers with workforce needs may help reduce employment-related anxiety.