Dataset on Depression Symptoms, Health Behaviors, and Academic Characteristics among Medical Students and Resident Physicians in Ecuador
Description
This dataset contains structured information on sociodemographic characteristics, academic context, lifestyle behaviors, and mental health indicators among medical students and resident physicians in Ecuador. Variables include age, gender, marital status, living arrangements, dependents, and self-reported comorbidities, as well as academic factors such as training stage, study hours, employment status, and night shifts. Health-related behaviors are captured through alcohol consumption and tobacco use. Mental health is assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), which measures depressive symptoms, and the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI), a 24-item instrument evaluating domains such as positive mental attitude, preventive behaviors, and health practices. The dataset includes both individual item responses and derived scores (total and subscales). Variables are recorded in a structured format, including categorical, ordinal, and continuous data types. A detailed codebook (Variables and Definitions) accompanies the dataset, specifying variable names, coding schemes, and scoring procedures. Overall, the dataset enables analysis of the relationships between mental health, lifestyle behaviors, and academic demands in physicians in training.
Files
Steps to reproduce
Mental health status is assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), which consists of nine items measuring the frequency of depressive symptoms. In addition, health-related behaviors are evaluated using the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI), a multidimensional instrument composed of 24 items. The HBI is structured into subscales, including Positive Mental Attitude, Preventive Behaviors, and Health Practices, enabling both domain-specific and overall assessment through composite scores. Items are rated on a five-point Likert scale (1 = almost never to 5 = almost always). The total HBI score is calculated as the sum of all 24 items, yielding a range from 24 to 120, with higher scores indicating healthier behaviors. Each of the four subscales consists of 6 items, with subscale scores ranging from 6 to 30. Example items include behaviors related to dietary patterns, preventive practices, and cognitive–emotional regulation.
Institutions
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorPichincha, Quito