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Psychological Stress among Students in Health-Related Fields during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study at Selected Munich Universities

Author

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  • Kristina Schröpfer

    (Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology—IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
    Pettenkofer School of Public Health, 81377 Munich, Germany)

  • Nicole Schmidt

    (Department of Social Work, Catholic University of Applied Sciences, 81667 Munich, Germany
    Gynecology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Genève, Switzerland)

  • Sandra Kus

    (Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology—IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
    Pettenkofer School of Public Health, 81377 Munich, Germany)

  • Clemens Koob

    (Department of Health and Nursing, Catholic University of Applied Sciences, 81667 Munich, Germany)

  • Michaela Coenen

    (Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology—IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
    Pettenkofer School of Public Health, 81377 Munich, Germany)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging period of upheaval for higher education students. This study aims to assess the factors associated with psychological stress during the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of students in health-related fields at Munich universities in Germany. Students ( n = 623) from KSH Munich and LMU Munich completed an online cross-sectional survey. Information on demographics and academic and everyday difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as data on physical and mental health were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the outcome. The prevalence for higher psychological stress was 44% among the study population. Factors associated with higher psychological stress were: lower overall life satisfaction ( p < 0.0001), worsened health situation ( p < 0.0001), lack of social support ( p = 0.0301) and social interaction ( p = 0.0115), worries about financial difficulties due to loss of income ( p = 0.0134), stressful thoughts about a second wave ( p < 0.0001), feeling unable to positively influence the situation ( p = 0.0262) and study-related effects, such as perceived study burden ( p = 0.0003) and likely delay in studies ( p = 0.0178)). The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant negative impact on the mental health of students in health-related fields. Proactive efforts to support the mental health and well-being of students are needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristina Schröpfer & Nicole Schmidt & Sandra Kus & Clemens Koob & Michaela Coenen, 2021. "Psychological Stress among Students in Health-Related Fields during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study at Selected Munich Universities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6611-:d:578057
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aleksander Aristovnik & Damijana Keržič & Dejan Ravšelj & Nina Tomaževič & Lan Umek, 2020. "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life of Higher Education Students: A Global Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-34, October.
    2. Julio Torales & Marcelo O’Higgins & João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia & Antonio Ventriglio, 2020. "The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(4), pages 317-320, June.
    3. Imran Aslan & Dominika Ochnik & Orhan Çınar, 2020. "Exploring Perceived Stress among Students in Turkey during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Shelley L. Holden & Brooke E. Forester & Henry N. Williford & Erin Reilly, 2019. "Sport Locus of Control and Perceived Stress among College Student-Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-7, August.
    5. Teris Cheung & Siu Yi Wong & Kit Yi Wong & Lap Yan Law & Karen Ng & Man Tik Tong & Ka Yu Wong & Man Ying Ng & Paul S.F. Yip, 2016. "Depression, Anxiety and Symptoms of Stress among Baccalaureate Nursing Students in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-25, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Domenico Sanseverino & Danila Molinaro & Paola Spagnoli & Chiara Ghislieri, 2023. "The Dynamic between Self-Efficacy and Emotional Exhaustion through Studyholism: Which Resources Could Be Helpful for University Students?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(15), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Fang-Yi Tsai & Hannah Schillok & Michaela Coenen & Christina Merkel & Caroline Jung-Sievers & on behalf of the COSMO Study Group, 2022. "The Well-Being of the German Adult Population Measured with the WHO-5 over Different Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis within the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring Study (COSMO)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-27, March.

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