The relationship between critical thinking disposition and depression tendency and the related factors among the students of medicine faculty: Sample of Çukurova University

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between critical thinking disposition and depression tendency and the related factors among the students of Medicine Faculty at Çukurova University. The sample of the study consisted of 403 students who were studying in the preclinical period of 1st, 2nd, 3rd grades of Medicine Faculty at Çukurova University in the spring term of the 2017-2018 academic year. Personal Information Form, California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used as the data collection tools. According to the results of the study, only 7.4% of the participating university students in the study group have high tendency to think critically, while 51.9% have a moderate tendency and 40.7% have a low level of critical thinking. 9.9% of university students in the study group have a severe tendency to depression, 18.4% have moderate and 32% have mild depression. The level of depression tendency was normal in 39.7% of the students. When the relationship between depression tendency and critical thinking disposition is examined, it was determined that there was a negative-moderate (r = -0.45) correlation between the BDI score and the CCTDI score. As the level of critical thinking dispositions of the student increases, the level of depression tendency decreases. According to the research results; the level of critical thinking tendency and the level of depression tendency were determined to differ with the level of academic success, family structure, the presence of hobby and frequency of hobby, previous psychological support for depression and currently receiving psychological support due to depression. Critical thinking disposition and depression tendency levels do not differ according to the family's economic situation. While the level of critical thinking tendency was higher among female students, it was seen that depression tendency levels did not differ according to gender. While the levels of critical thinking tendency differ according to the class levels, the levels of depression tendency do not change. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent variables affecting the level of depression. When gender, the level of class, academic achievement and previous psychological support and the level of critical thinking that were determined to affect depression tendency were added together in the model; gender, previous psychological support and low level of critical thinking were independent and statistically significant factors that significantly affected the level of depression. Being female increases 1,8 times (OR:1.8; %95CI:1.1-3.2) to suffer from depression tendency, having previously received psychological support increases to 3.6 times (OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 2.0-6.8), having low critical thinking increases to 3.4 times (OR: 3.4; 95% CI: 2.1-5.6). The results obtained the study are pointed out that individuals whose critical thinking level is well developed will be able to cope more easily with depression.