Associations of gender and previous COVID-19 infection with mental well-being among Pakistani undergraduate dental students: a retrospective secondary analysis of a multicentre cross-sectional survey

Although the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted dental education, factors associated with positive mental well-being among dental students remain insufficiently understood. This retrospective secondary analysis aimed to examine associations between gender and previous COVID-19 infection with mental well-being among undergraduate dental students. A retrospective secondary analysis was conducted using the data from a multicentre cross-sectional survey of 210 undergraduate dental students from three dental colleges in Islamabad, Pakistan. Using a census sampling approach, all eligible students were invited to participate, and consenting respondents were included. Mental well-being was assessed using the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS). Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to examine associations between demographic factors and a previous COVID-19 infection with mental well-being among undergraduate dental students. A total of 210 undergraduate dental students were included in the analysis. The mean WEMWBS score was 44.05 ± 10.2. In the multivariable linear regression analysis, female gender was significantly associated with lower WEMWBS scores (B = − 3.85, standardized β = − 0.24, 95% CI − 5.90 to − 1.80; p = 0.002), as was previous COVID-19 infection (B = − 3.74, standardized β = −0.19, 95% CI − 6.20 to − 1.30; p = 0.011). Age and academic year were not significantly associated with mental well-being. The final regression model was statistically significant (R² = 0.175; adjusted R² = 0.155; p < 0.001). This retrospective secondary analysis identified female gender and a previous COVID-19 infection as factors associated with lower WEMWBS scores among undergraduate dental students. These findings may assist dental institutions in developing targeted educational and mental well-being support strategies.