The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health in Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study in Italy in Psychological reports
2022
AOU Città della Salute di Torino
Tipo pubblicazione
Article in Press
Autori/Collaboratori (7)Vedi tutti...
Carletto S
Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", 9314University of Torino, Italy; Clinical Psychology Unit, A.O.U. City of Health and Science of Torino, Italy
Lo Moro G
Department of Public Health Sciences, 9314University of Torino, Italy
Zuccaroli Lavista V
Formerly at the School of Medicine, 9314University of Torino, Italy
et alii...
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of the prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress symptoms in Italian medical students and to identify the associated factors. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to second-sixth year medical students of the University of Torino, collecting data on the students' sociodemographics, COVID-19 exposure, anxiety, depression and stress symptoms. Three hierarchical regressions adjusted for age, gender and year of study were executed. Results: The sample size was 1359. The prevalence of anxiety, depression symptoms, moderate perceived stress and severe perceived stress was 47.8%, 52.1%, 56.2% and 28.4%, respectively. The factors associated with mental health symptoms were: being a woman, a family history of psychiatric disorders, living off-site, competitive/hostile climates and unsatisfying friendships among classmates, poor relationships with cohabitants, negative judgment of medical school choice, fear of COVID-19 infection, feelings of loneliness, distressing existential reflections, and a worsening psychological condition related to the pandemic. Being in the fourth or sixth year constituted a protective factor for depression symptoms. Conclusions: Mental health in medical students was associated with both COVID-independent and COVID-related factors. Accessibility to effective interventions must be increased to counteract these changes.
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PMID : 36130951
DOI : 10.1177/00332941221127632
Keywords
adult; anxiety; article; climate; controlled study; coronavirus disease 2019; depression; distress syndrome; family history; fear; female; friendship; gender; health survey; human; Italy; loneliness; male; medical school; medical student; mental disease; mental health; pandemic; physiological stress; prevalence; sample size; sociodemographics;