The relationship between student's critical thinking and mental health in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Developing critical thinking is one of the important goals in higher education level and a key element in student's mental health. This study aimed at investigating the relationship between student's critical thinking and mental health in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad city, Northeast of Iran. In a descriptive-correlation research, 357 students (196 girls and 161 boys) in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences during academic year of 2010-2011 were selected by multi-stage clustering method, using Morgan and Kerjcie's table. They completed Goldberger's General Mental Health Questionnaire (1979) and the California Critical Thinking Skills Test-Form B (1994). Data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient, regression model and MANOVA test. There was a significant correlation of student's critical thinking with their mental health status (P<0.01). Among components of mental health, anxiety (r=-0.17, P=0.01) and depression (r=-0.06, P>0.05) had the highest and the least correlation with mental health, respectively. Variance of student's mental health can be predicted by their critical thinking (P<0.01). Comparing with boys, Girls had a better mental health status, according to the Questionnaire (P<0.001). Both genders had relatively similar level in critical thinking (P>0.05). Considering the significant relationship between critical thinking and mental health, it can be concluded that critical thinking affects mental health. Such relationship is increasingly important in students of medicine and health sciences.