These researchers surveyed 3,080 medical students at 5 US medical schools in 2006, using validated instruments to explore differences in the prevalence of burnout, depressive symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) among minority and nonminority medical students as well as the role that race/ethnicity plays in students’ training experiences. The response rate was 55%. Burnout was reported by 47% of students and depressive symptoms by 49%. Mental QOL scores were lower among students than among the age-matched general population (43.1 vs 47.2). While the prevalence of depressive symptoms was similar regardless of minority status, burnout was reported by significantly more nonminority students (39% vs 33%). They were more likely to report that their race/ethnicity had adversely affected their medical school experience (11% vs 2%) and cited racial discrimination, racial prejudice, feelings of isolation, and different cultural expectations as causes. Those minority students who reported such experiences were significantly more likely to experience burnout, depressive symptoms, and low mental QOL scores than were minority students without such experiences.
