Background:

The pandemic effects on the mental health of healthcare personnel is a public health problem.

Objective:

To determine factors associated with psychopathological symptomatology in undergraduate medical students.

Material and methods:

2961 students from four generations answered the GHQ-28 online: n1. Pre-pandemic (n = 758) n2. Initial phase (n = 581), n3. Acute phase (n = 705), and n4. Protected return phase (n = 917), between August 2019 and September 2022. Using multivariable logistic regression models, factors associated (sociodemographic and clinical) with psychopathological symptomatology were identified.

Results:

51.9% of students presented symptomatology, with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms (22.9%), and somatic and sleep disturbance (11.1%). The pandemic phase (n2. OR = 12.69, n3. OR = 8.45, n4. OR = 5.62), having a personal history of major depression (OR = 4.35), family history of depression (OR = 1.96), limited (OR = 1.54) and insufficient economic resources (OR = 2.09) and being female (OR = 1.46) were significantly associated with symptomatology.

Conclusions:

The pandemic influenced the mental health of undergraduate medical students. Actions aimed at promoting healthy educational environments, and strategies for prevention and care of psychopathological symptomatology are necessary.