Medical students’ mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the well-being, both mental and physical, of students worldwide. Medical students faced challenges in the educational process, including online education, uncertainty as for the terms of licensing exams, and limited practical experience. The present study aimed to compare the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of medical students from Ukraine, India, and African countries, focusing on the frequency of incidence of psychosomatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression. 230 students of the Academic and Research Medical Institute of Sumy State University were survey participants. The mental well-being of medical students was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using the statistical software PAST v4.03. It was found that 60 % of students had mental health disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic. Symptoms of depression were detected in 15% of medical students, psychosomatic symptoms in 34%, anxiety and insomnia in 47%, and social dysfunction in 65% of respondents. The main psycho-emotional disorder in most students was social dysfunction, which was associated with limited social activity during quarantine. It was found that students from India and African countries had a higher incidence of depression than Ukrainian students. Obviously, being away from home during a pandemic has an additional negative impact on the mental health of international students. The frequency of anxiety and insomnia was higher among Ukrainians than among foreign students. Changes in learning environments and concerns about personal and family health have contributed to heightened anxiety levels among Ukrainian students. It should be noted that with the transition to online learning and communication, students had to spend more time in front of screens, which could contribute to digital fatigue, disrupt sleep patterns, and negatively affect mental well-being. The results of the study provided valuable insight into the mental health challenges faced by medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic with regard to their nationality, highlighting the need for targeted psychological support interventions for students to improve their mental health.