IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i17p11098-d906740.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mental Stress in Medical Students during the Pandemic and Their Relation to Digital and Hybrid Semester—Cross-Sectional Data from Three Recruitment Waves in Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Arndt Büssing

    (Quality of Life, Spirituality and Coping, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, 58313 Herdecke, Germany)

  • Michaela Zupanic

    (Interprofessional and Collaborative Didactics in Medical and Health Professions, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, Germany)

  • Jan P. Ehlers

    (Didactics and Educational Research in Health Care, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, Germany)

  • Angelika Taetz-Harrer

    (Didactics and Educational Research in Health Care, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, Germany
    Office of Student Affairs in Human Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, 58455 Witten, Germany)

Abstract

Background: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, students had to interrupt their regular studies, and universities changed their teaching formats. The aim of this study was to analyze medical students’ stress perception, wellbeing, life and work satisfaction, and cool down reactions, and to compare the survey data of online and hybrid semesters with pre-pandemic education formats in-person. Methods: Cross-sectional surveys at three time points enrolling 1061 medical students (58% women; 24.4 ± 3.4 years); 30.8% from pre-pandemic formats in-person, 22.8% from pandemic online semesters, and 46.1% from pandemic hybrid semesters. Results: Both students’ stress perception and psychological wellbeing decreased during the pandemic semesters. Their satisfaction with the university support was at its lowest during the hybrid semesters. Regression analyses indicated that students’ stress perception can be explained only to some extent by their general dissatisfaction with their medical studies or teaching formats. Conclusions: The lockdowns affected students in more ways than simply their teaching formats. Students require individual support to adjust to difficult situations, and particularly medical students in their preclinical phase compared to students in their clinical phases. These are challenges for the medical education system, which must find ways to be prepared for future times of crisis and insecurity.

Suggested Citation

  • Arndt Büssing & Michaela Zupanic & Jan P. Ehlers & Angelika Taetz-Harrer, 2022. "Mental Stress in Medical Students during the Pandemic and Their Relation to Digital and Hybrid Semester—Cross-Sectional Data from Three Recruitment Waves in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:11098-:d:906740
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/11098/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/17/11098/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shefali Liyanage & Kiran Saqib & Amber Fozia Khan & Tijhiana Rose Thobani & Wang-Choi Tang & Cameron B. Chiarot & Bara’ Abdallah AlShurman & Zahid Ahmad Butt, 2021. "Prevalence of Anxiety in University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Huidi Xiao & Wen Shu & Menglong Li & Ziang Li & Fangbiao Tao & Xiaoyan Wu & Yizhen Yu & Heng Meng & Sten H. Vermund & Yifei Hu, 2020. "Social Distancing among Medical Students during the 2019 Coronavirus Disease Pandemic in China: Disease Awareness, Anxiety Disorder, Depression, and Behavioral Activities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Alyssa A. Guo & Marissa A. Crum & Lauren A. Fowler, 2021. "Assessing the Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 in Undergraduate Medical Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Isabel Lasheras & Patricia Gracia-García & Darren M. Lipnicki & Juan Bueno-Notivol & Raúl López-Antón & Concepción de la Cámara & Antonio Lobo & Javier Santabárbara, 2020. "Prevalence of Anxiety in Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Rapid Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-12, September.
    5. Lígia Passos & Filipe Prazeres & Andreia Teixeira & Carlos Martins, 2020. "Impact on Mental Health Due to COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study in Portugal and Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    6. Huidi Xiao & Wen Shu & Menglong Li & Ziang Li & Fangbiao Tao & Xiaoyan Wu & Yizhen Yu & Heng Meng & Sten H. Vermund & Yifei Hu, 2020. "Correction: Xiao, H., et al. Social Distancing among Medical Students during the 2019 Coronavirus Disease Pandemic in China: Disease Awareness, Anxiety Disorder, Depression, and Behavioral Activities.," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-2, December.
    7. Travis Tian-Ci Quek & Wilson Wai-San Tam & Bach X. Tran & Min Zhang & Zhisong Zhang & Cyrus Su-Hui Ho & Roger Chun-Man Ho, 2019. "The Global Prevalence of Anxiety Among Medical Students: A Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-18, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wandeep Kaur & Vimala Balakrishnan & Yoke Yong Chen & Jeyarani Periasamy, 2022. "Mental Health Risk Factors and Coping Strategies among Students in Asia Pacific during COVID-19 Pandemic—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Isabel Lasheras & Patricia Gracia-García & Darren M. Lipnicki & Juan Bueno-Notivol & Raúl López-Antón & Concepción de la Cámara & Antonio Lobo & Javier Santabárbara, 2020. "Prevalence of Anxiety in Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Rapid Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Javier Santabarbara & Nahia Idoiaga & Naiara Ozamiz-Etxebarria & Juan Bueno-Notivol, 2021. "Prevalence of Anxiety in Dental Students during the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Mohamed Algezawy & Mohanad M. S. Ghaleb & Shaimaa A. Mohamed & Alaa M. S. Azazz, 2023. "The Impact of Social Loafing on Turnover Intention for Tourism Employees Post COVID-19: The Mediating Role of Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-16, May.
    5. Franca Spatafora & Paula M. Matos Fialho & Heide Busse & Stefanie M. Helmer & Hajo Zeeb & Christiane Stock & Claus Wendt & Claudia R. Pischke, 2022. "Fear of Infection and Depressive Symptoms among German University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Telmo Raul Aveiro-Róbalo & Luciana Daniela Garlisi-Torales & Marisella Chumán-Sánchez & César J. Pereira-Victorio & Mariana Huaman-Garcia & Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas & Mario J. Valladares-Garrido, 2022. "Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in University Students in Paraguay during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, October.
    7. Alessandra Patrono & Stefano Renzetti & Angela Manco & Paola Brunelli & Stefanny M. Moncada & Mark J. Macgowan & Donatella Placidi & Stefano Calza & Giuseppa Cagna & Matteo Rota & Maurizio Memo & Maur, 2022. "COVID-19 Aftermath: Exploring the Mental Health Emergency among Students at a Northern Italian University," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-16, July.
    8. Blanca Rosa García-Rivera & Jorge Luis García-Alcaraz & Ignacio Alejandro Mendoza-Martínez & Jesús Everardo Olguin-Tiznado & Pedro García-Alcaráz & Mónica Fernanda Aranibar & Claudia Camargo-Wilson, 2021. "Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic Uncertainty in Negative Emotional States and Resilience as Mediators against Suicide Ideation, Drug Addiction and Alcoholism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-19, December.
    9. Ana Luisa Varrone Sartorao & Carlos Izaias Sartorao-Filho, 2024. "Anxiety and Depression Disorders in Undergraduate Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Integrative Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(12), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Alyssa A. Guo & Marissa A. Crum & Lauren A. Fowler, 2021. "Assessing the Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 in Undergraduate Medical Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    11. Wei How Darryl Ang & Han Shi Jocelyn Chew & Yew Hui Nicholas Ong & Zhongjia James Zheng & Shefaly Shorey & Ying Lau, 2022. "Becoming More Resilient during COVID-19: Insights from a Process Evaluation of Digital Resilience Training," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-21, October.
    12. Thomas Volken & Annina Zysset & Simone Amendola & Anthony Klein Swormink & Marion Huber & Agnes von Wyl & Julia Dratva, 2021. "Depressive Symptoms in Swiss University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Correlates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    13. Edyta Skwirczyńska & Mateusz Kozłowski & Katarzyna Nowak & Oskar Wróblewski & Agnieszka Sompolska-Rzechuła & Sebastian Kwiatkowski & Aneta Cymbaluk-Płoska, 2022. "Anxiety Assessment in Polish Students during the Russian–Ukrainian War," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-13, October.
    14. Ke Ran Tee & Abdul Samat Ismail & Yong Heng Ang & Hidayah Husna Hishamuddin & Vinneeshah Jacob Paul & Azimatun Noor Aizuddin & Ida Zarina Zaini, 2022. "Prevalence of Anxiety and Burnout, and Coping Mechanisms among Clinical Year Medical Undergraduate Students in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    15. Ida Heitmann Løset & Torgils Lægreid & Ewa Rodakowska, 2022. "Dental Students’ Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Cross-Sectional Study from Norway," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-10, March.
    16. Christine Ipsen & Marc van Veldhoven & Kathrin Kirchner & John Paulin Hansen, 2021. "Six Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Working from Home in Europe during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-17, February.
    17. Diana Frasquilho & Ricardo Matias & Jaime Grácio & Berta Sousa & Fernando Luís-Ferreira & João Leal & Fátima Cardoso & Albino J. Oliveira-Maia, 2021. "Protocol for the Implementation and Assessment of “MoodUP”: A Stepped Care Model Assisted by a Digital Platform to Accelerate Access to Mental Health Care for Cancer Patients Amid the COVID-19 Pandemi," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-11, April.
    18. Kaiting Zhang & Yixiang Peng & Xiaowei Zhang & Liping Li, 2021. "Psychological Burden and Experiences Following Exposure to COVID-19: A Qualitative and Quantitative Study of Chinese Medical Student Volunteers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    19. Clara Maestre-Miquel & Francisco Martín-Rodríguez & Carlos Durantez-Fernández & José L. Martín-Conty & Antonio Viñuela & Begoña Polonio-López & Carmen Romo-Barrientos & Juan José Criado-Álvarez & Fran, 2022. "Gender Differences in Anxiety, Attitudes, and Fear among Nursing Undergraduates Coping with CPR Training with PPE Kit for COVID," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-11, November.
    20. María Giner-Murillo & Beatriz Atienza-Carbonell & Jose Cervera-Martínez & Teresa Bobes-Bascarán & Benedicto Crespo-Facorro & Raquel B. De Boni & Cristina Esteban & María Paz García-Portilla & Susana G, 2021. "Lifestyle in Undergraduate Students and Demographically Matched Controls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-17, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:11098-:d:906740. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.