Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on stress and coping strategies among medical students: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

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 levels were found to be significantly higher post-COVID compared to the during-COVID period. Furthermore, the study identified that stress severity varied across different medical school years, with 3rd-year students experiencing the highest stress levels (OR=8.9; P<0.0001), followed by 5th-year (OR=6.6; P=0.0004), 1st-year (OR=3.9; P=0.008), and 4th-year (OR=2.4; P=0.01) students. Among the coping strategies adopted by medical students to manage moderate to severe stress, "Religious activities" emerged as the most effective approach (OR=0.44; P=0.0001). Furthermore, the study highlighted a noteworthy increase in stress levels among female students during the transitional year of medical school, i.e., the third medical year, which marks the transition from preclinical to clinical training. Considering the study's findings, a support program is proposed, aiming to integrate psychological, organizational, and instrumental assistance. This program aligns with the participatory model of intervention and is designed to address the unique stressors faced by medical students during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.