Materialistic values and their association with depression in medical postgraduates: materialism leads to higher risk of depression

doi:10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2025.06.11

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To explore the values of materialism in medical postgraduates and its relationship with depression. Methods We conducted a survey among 592 postgraduates in clinical medicine using Materialism Tendency Scale (MTS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Descriptive analysis, mean comparison, and correlation analysis were used for data analysis. Results The postgraduates had a mean total score of materialism of 56.36±10.44, and 11.8%, 54.1%, and 34.1% of them reported high, medium, and low levels of materialism, respectively. No significant differences were found in the total score of materialism among the postgraduates of different genders or with different family economic levels, but the postgraduates from urban families had a significantly higher level of materialism than those from rural families (P<0.001). 18.4% of the postgraduates screened positive for moderate to severe depressive symptoms. The total score of MTS was positively correlated with depression (r=0.289, P<0.001). The dimension scores of MTS for materialism obsessions, material vanity, material interest, and material pursuit were all positively correlated with depression (r=0.183-0.289, P<0.001). The depressive symptoms and their overall levels differed significantly among individuals with different levels of materialism, and higher levels of materialism were associated with severer depressive symptoms (F=18.792, P<0.001) and a higher positive rate of depression (χ²=27.528, P<0.001). Conclusion Materialistic values may increase the risk of depression among medical postgraduates.

Key words: materialistic values, depression, values, clinical medicine professional degree postgraduate student

Xia LV, Rong XIAO. Materialistic values and their association with depression in medical postgraduates: materialism leads to higher risk of depression[J]. Journal of Southern Medical University, 2025, 45(6): 1220-1225.

Figures/Tables 3

References 49

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Characteristics	Material tendency	Material worship	Material vanity	Material interests	Material pursuits	Material desires
Gender
Male (n=244)	56.93±11.39	11.71±3.3	8.9±2.96	11.84±3.16	14.64±2.98	11.86±1.71
Female (n=348)	55.95±9.72	11.17±2.96	8.58±2.52	11.18±2.66	14.61±2.75	12.32±1.71
t	1.097	2.097*	1.351	2.669**	0.144	-3.192**
Place of residence
Countryside (n=230)	54.53±10.13	10.99±3.1	8.17±2.43	10.97±2.81	14.51±2.89	11.97±1.64
City (n=362)	57.51±10.49	11.65±3.1	9.06±2.82	11.77±2.9	14.7±2.82	12.23±1.77
t	-3.414***	-2.517*	-4.099***	-3.292**	-0.781	-1.824
Family finances
Poor (n=84)	57.04±11.68	11.92±3.45	8.32±2.68	11.69±3.06	15.23±3.15	11.69±1.71
Medium (n=450)	56.22±9.96	11.32±297	8.69±2.67	11.44±2.84	14.52±2.72	12.19±1.67
Rich (n=58)	56.43±12.24	11.21±3.64	9.43±2.95	11.21±3.08	14.38±3.23	12.29±2.04
F	0.217	1.398	2.939	0.495	2.292	3.285
Total (n=592)	56.36±10.44	11.39±3.11	8.71±2.71	11.46±2.89	14.62±2.84	12.13±1.72

Characteristics	Material tendency	Material worship	Material vanity	Material interests	Material pursuits	Material desires
Gender
Male (n=244)	56.93±11.39	11.71±3.3	8.9±2.96	11.84±3.16	14.64±2.98	11.86±1.71
Female (n=348)	55.95±9.72	11.17±2.96	8.58±2.52	11.18±2.66	14.61±2.75	12.32±1.71
t	1.097	2.097*	1.351	2.669**	0.144	-3.192**
Place of residence
Countryside (n=230)	54.53±10.13	10.99±3.1	8.17±2.43	10.97±2.81	14.51±2.89	11.97±1.64
City (n=362)	57.51±10.49	11.65±3.1	9.06±2.82	11.77±2.9	14.7±2.82	12.23±1.77
t	-3.414***	-2.517*	-4.099***	-3.292**	-0.781	-1.824
Family finances
Poor (n=84)	57.04±11.68	11.92±3.45	8.32±2.68	11.69±3.06	15.23±3.15	11.69±1.71
Medium (n=450)	56.22±9.96	11.32±297	8.69±2.67	11.44±2.84	14.52±2.72	12.19±1.67
Rich (n=58)	56.43±12.24	11.21±3.64	9.43±2.95	11.21±3.08	14.38±3.23	12.29±2.04
F	0.217	1.398	2.939	0.495	2.292	3.285
Total (n=592)	56.36±10.44	11.39±3.11	8.71±2.71	11.46±2.89	14.62±2.84	12.13±1.72

Items	Materialism levels			F/χ²	P	Multiple comparison
Items	1 Low (n=202)	2 Medium (n=320)	3 High (n=70)	F/χ²	P	Multiple comparison
PHQ-9 Score	6.02±3.78	7.06±3.76	9.24±4.08	18.792	<0.001	1<2<3
Positive rate[n (%)]	24(11.9)	57(17.8)	28(40)	27.528	<0.001

Items	Materialism levels			F/χ²	P	Multiple comparison
Items	1 Low (n=202)	2 Medium (n=320)	3 High (n=70)	F/χ²	P	Multiple comparison
PHQ-9 Score	6.02±3.78	7.06±3.76	9.24±4.08	18.792	<0.001	1<2<3
Positive rate[n (%)]	24(11.9)	57(17.8)	28(40)	27.528	<0.001

Items	Materialism levels			F	P	Multiple comparison
Items	1 Low (n=202)	2 Medium (n=320)	3 High (n=70)	F	P	Multiple comparison
1.Little interest	0.95±0.64	1.09±0.60	1.37±0.73	12.149	<0.001	1<2<3
2.Feeling depressed	0.88±0.60	0.95±0.54	1.17±0.61	6.835	0.001	1<3,2<3
3.Trouble sleeping	0.78±0.70	0.85±0.72	1.13±0.92	5.921	0.003	1<3,2<3
4.Feeling tired	0.98±0.62	1.09±0.67	1.33±0.61	7.699	<0.001	1<3,2<3
5. Poor appetite	0.62±0.67	0.72±0.66	1.03±0.74	9.444	<0.001	1<3,2<3
6.Feeling bad about oneself	0.55±0.70	0.71±0.68	0.97±0.70	10.283	<0.001	1<2<3
7.Trouble concentrating	0.85±0.69	1.02±0.67	1.36±0.68	15.021	<0.001	1<2<3
8.Slow or restless	0.33±0.55	0.46±0.61	0.54±0.53	4.982	0.007	1<2,1<3
9.Suicidal ideation	0.09±0.34	0.17±0.42	0.34±0.59	9.351	<0.001	1<3