Fatigue Severity and Psychological Well-Being of Junior Medical Interns as Mediated by Rumination

Abstract

This study investigated the psychological well-being of junior medical interns in the Philippines as they transitioned from medical school to hospital clerkships. The research aimed to understand the mediating role of rumination in the relationship between fatigue severity and psychological well-being among these interns. A cross-sectional study was conducted across 33 medical schools in the Philippines, with 504 junior medical interns participating between May and September 2023. Participants completed questionnaires with demographic information and standardized scales measuring fatigue severity, rumination, and psychological well-being. The results showed that the interns experienced severe levels of fatigue (M = 45.90), moderate levels of psychological well-being (M = 57.56), and above-normal levels of rumination (M = 53.80). All three variables were significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.01). Mediation analysis revealed that rumination significantly mediated the relationship between fatigue severity and psychological well-being (B = 0.125, SE = 0.062, p = 0.045). These findings suggest that interventions targeting rumination may be beneficial in improving the psychological well-being of junior medical interns during their transition from medical school to hospital clerkships.