Levels of stress in medical students due to COVID-19 (original) (raw)
Related papers
International Journal of ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges and stressors for medical students, potentially affecting their emotional well-being. This study aimed to explore the influence of stress during and after the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students' sociodemographic characteristics and their coping strategies. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1st to 5th-year medical students utilizing a self-administered questionnaire, alongside the Kessler 10 Psychological Distress questionnaire, to collect data on perceived stress and coping variables. The findings revealed a notable gender disparity in stress levels during the COVID-19 period, with female medical students experiencing significantly higher stress prevalence (38.5%) compared to their male counterparts (16.2%). However, in the post-COVID period, medical students reported slightly lower stress levels, with female students at 26.9% and male students at 12.8%, compared to the COVID-19 phase. Nonetheless, stress le...
Association of COVID-19 Pandemic with undergraduate Medical Students’ Perceived Stress and Coping
Psychology Research and Behavior Management
The COVID-19 pandemic poses a major challenge for medical students' learning and has become a potential stressor, with a profound influence on their psychological wellbeing. We aimed to determine the effect of the current pandemic on undergraduate medical students' learning. We also explored the association of their stress level with coping strategies, educational, and psychological variables. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional design study, and participants were the 1st to 5th year medical students. A self-administered questionnaire (18 items) and a well-known Kessler 10 Psychological Distress questionnaire (10 items) were used to collect the data related to perceived stress with an association of educational, psychological, and coping variables. Results: The prevalence of overall stress was significantly higher (χ 2 = 16.3; P=0.000) in female medical students, ie, (40%) as compared to the male students (16.6%), and was highest (48.8%) during the 3rd medical year. It was also noted that the most effective strategy, embraced by students to cope with the severe stress, was "indulging in religious activities" (OR= 1.08; P=0.81). Furthermore, 22.3% of students had perceived severe stress as they did not prefer online learning. Similarly, those students who have not believed or refused the online learning or disagree in "there is pleasure in the study due to COVID" they have significantly higher stress (χ 2 =39.7; P=0.000) 21.5% mild, 17.8% of moderate, and 21.2% severe. Conclusion: We found that the COVID-19 pandemic has induced stress and changes in medical students' educational attitudes and strategies. The results exhibited that the predominance of stress is higher in females than males, and also more stress was perceived by the students during their transitional year, ie, 3rd medical year (from pre-clinical to clinical) and also the respondents who regularly did religious meditation were at lower levels of stress. COVID-19's influence on medical education and students' well-being will be felt at an extended level, which necessitates an appropriate plan for preparedness.
Healthcare
Numerous research results have already pointed towards the negative influence of increased mental stress on educational processes and motivational criteria. It has also been shown that the global public health crisis induced by COVID-19 was related to anxiety symptoms and elevated levels of distress. To holistically elucidate the dynamics of the pandemic-related mental stress of first-year medical students, the associated parameters of three different cohorts were measured at the beginning of the pandemic-related restrictions on university life in Germany (20/21), at the peak of the COVID-19-related restrictions (21/22) and during the easing of the restrictions in the winter term 22/23. In a repeated cross-sectional study design, the constructs of worries, tension, demands and joy were collected from first-year medical students (n = 578) using the Perceived Stress Questionnaire. The results demonstrate significantly increased values of the constructs worries (p < 0.001), tension ...
Prevalence of Stress and Stressors During the COVID-19 Endemic Era Among Healthcare Students
2023
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced challenges across diverse facets of human life, profoundly affecting the mental health of individuals, including students, regardless of their fields. This study delves into the intricate relationship between socio-demographic factors and stress among undergraduate healthcare students at IIUM during the endemic phase of COVID-19. Factors such as gender, race, academic year, kulliyyah, study support, family financial status, and psychological history are examined in connection to stress incidence. The motivation for this investigation stems from the limited and scattered data available for this specific pandemic phase. Method: Employing a cross-sectional design, the study utilized random stratified sampling, focusing exclusively on active undergraduate healthcare students who underwent clinical postings during the pandemic. The analysis included students from the Kulliyyah of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Allied Health Sciences. Data collection involved an online Google Form questionnaire encompassing the PSS-10, Undergraduate Source of Stress questionnaire, and an open-ended question. Results: Within the study participants, 26 individuals (14.7%) indicated experiencing low stress levels, while 126 students (71.2%) reported moderate stress, and 25 students (14.1%) expressed high perceived stress. Analyzing the distribution of stress among healthcare students at IIUM, it was observed that KON students had the highest proportion at 49.2%, followed by KAHS at 18.1%, KOM and KOD both at 11.3%, and KOP at 10.2%. SPSS version 27.0 facilitated data analysis, revealing no significant association between socio-demographic factors and stress levels. Contributing factors to stress included course material volume, time demands, uncertainty about course expectations, intellectual demands, and university fees. Conclusion: Despite the challenges, most healthcare students exhibited controlled, moderate stress levels during the transition from pandemic to endemic phases.
Anxiety, depression, and academic stress among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic
Frontiers in Psychology
BackgroundThe social distancing policies implemented by the health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico and elsewhere led to major changes in teaching strategies for college undergraduates. So far, there is limited data regarding the impact of the lockdown on the academic stress and mental health of these students.ObjectiveTo assess the occurrence of academic difficulties, anxiety, depression, and academic stressors resulting in somatization with subsequent coping strategies linked to the pandemic.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with 728 medical students (years 1–5). A purposely designed questionnaire to assess academic difficulties associated with the pandemic was administered electronically. The validated Goldberg anxiety and depression scale was also used, as well as the SISCO-II inventory on academic stress.ResultsScreening for anxiety and depression led to a prevalence of 67.9 and 81.3%, respectively. Most relevant stressors, reported al...
Khyber Medical University Journal
OBJECTIVE: To identify the stressors related to academic online teaching and the change in social norms during the pandemic and to assess their psychological impact on the medical students. METHODS: A web based, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Hazrat Bari Imam Sarkar Medical and Dental College, Islamabad Pakistan over a period of 4 months using an Online questionnaire via Google forms based on Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS21) scale comprising of 21 questions which address the depression, anxiety, and stress related questions. The modified questionnaire also contained open ended questions along with a short questionnaire based on 3 points Likert scale. RESULTS: Total of 305 subjects participated. Mean (±SD) severity score for Depression, anxiety and stress was 2.02± 1.3, 1.76±1.25 and 1.66±1.15 respectively. Highly significant positive correlation was observed between depression and stress score of subjects and history of COVID-19 infection in an acquain...
Impact of COVID-19 related stressors on mental health in junior medical students
Academic Medical Journal, 2021
Introduction: Concern for mental health consequences in general population worldwide has been apparent since the start of the actual pandemic. Aim of the study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 related stressors on mental health in junior medical students during December 2020 COVID-19 related lockdown. Material and methods: The investigation included 275 second-year medical students aged 19-28 years, from the Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje during December 2020. Self-administered questionnaire containing standardized instruments for assessment of parameters of psychological distress (BAI, BDI and PSS) were used. COVID-19 related attitudes questionnaire for assessment of status of COVID-19 testing and infection, self-perceived levels of concerns related to academics [COVID-19-AA (academic apprehensions)] and those related to the self and family/friends [COVID-19-GA (general apprehensions)] were included. Results: The prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress was 74.9%, 43.3% and 78.9%, respectively. Almost 29% of students reported high anxiety, 6.2% had severe depression and 21.45% reported high levels of perceived stress. There was a significant positive correlation between COVID-19 GA score and BAI, BDI и PSS scores (p<0.05). Correlations between the COVID-19 AA scores and scores on BAI, BDI and PSS scales were also statistically significant (p=0.0000). Academic apprehension was found a predictive factor for high anxiety, depression and high stress (R 2 = .12, F (1,273) = 38.79, p < .001. β = 1.12, p < .001). Conclusion: General and academic apprehension related to COVID-19 have negative effects on mental wellbeing in second year medical students.
Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, 2022
The Covid-19 pandemic has hit various countries in the world, including Indonesia, which has had a considerable impact on various fields, including the field of education. The government imposed the Large-Scale Social Restriction or PSBB policy solely to reduce the spread of the corona virus so that all activities carried out outside the home must be stopped until the Covid-19 pandemic subsides. As a result, the teaching and learning process must be carried out online from their respective homes in order to minimize the spread of Covid-19. Therefore, first year medical students are more susceptible to stress than second and third year students. This study aims to describe the stress level of pre-clinical first-year medical students at the University of Mataram. This study used a cross-sectional (cross-sectional) research method, namely research conducted by observing for a moment or within a certain period and each study subject only made 1 observation during the study. The number of samples in this study amounted to 115 people. The research instrument used was the Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire. Then the results of research based on the MSSQ questionnaire have 6 domains with stressors that dominate the highest stress levels are academic stressors 62 people (53.91%). In the stress level domain, the most dominant is severe stress with the domain having the highest level of severe stress being the academic stressor domain and the one having the highest light stress being the intrapersonal and interpersonal stressor domain, but severe stress still dominates.
Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Undergraduate Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Healthline, Journal of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, 2022
Globally, mental health among undergraduate students represents an important public health entity. Undergraduate (UG) students in medical colleges are facing tremendous psychological stress during the COVID-19 pandemic with prolonged periods of online classes and lack of clinical correlation due to absence of practical physical sessions and clinical exposure. Research studies have highlighted that online classes may lead to serious disorders and mental health issues such as [1,2] depression, anxiety and stress. Stress is any action that places special psychological or physical demands upon a person, anything that can unbalance [3] his or her individual equilibrium. Furthermore, extended lockdowns and lack of social interaction has made their life monotonous resulting in burnout. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion, wherein you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant
Advances in Medical Education and Practice
Purpose: Stress is a psychological shift that negatively affects student achievement. We sought to investigate the extent of stress in the medical students at our university. Patients and Methods: A total of 337 medical students representing three program phases were represented. Stress was measured using a questionnaire divided into three main parts: 10question Kessler instruments, 10-questions specific to identifying the causes of stress, and a qualitative component to report additional information. For the Kessler questionnaire, a score of less than 20 was considered negative for stress of any level (alert) and scores of 20-24 were considered mild stress (resistance phase), 25-29 moderate stress (near exhaustion), and 30-50 severe stress (exhaustion). Descriptive studies in the form of mean, standard deviation, and confidence interval (CI) were used in addition to the chi-squared test for estimate significant differences between variables. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The prevalence of stress was 85.5%, with a slight male predominance. The prevalence of stress was seen among the male students during Phase I (88.25%), followed by male students during Phase III (87.7%), female students during phase II (86.5%), male students during phase II (84.5%), female students during phase I (83.3%) and female students during phase III (80.4%). Stress was uniformly high during phase I (86.2%) followed by phase II (85.4%) and phase III (85.1%), and 85% of stress was obtained from the number and content of assessments. Conclusion: There is a high level of stress throughout the curriculum. The number of assessments and the number of modules and their content are the primary sources of stress. Student mentorship, including academic, psychic, and social counseling, may help predict and manage stress and improve student performance. Detection of stress among the students is a major issue for program monitoring and development.