Psychological Well-being and the Prevalence of Anxiety among Medical Students during COVID-۱۹: An Online Survey

Background: The COVID-۱۹ pandemic has caused international health concerns. University students, especially medical students, considered to experience higher anxiety levels. This high level of anxiety may lead to many challenges and unfavorable consequences.Objectives: This study aimed to assess psychological well-being and the prevalence of anxiety among medical students of Kerman University of Medical Sciences during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted on Kerman University of Medical Sciences medical students from April to June ۲۰۲۱. The participants were asked to complete Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), Goldberg and Hiller’s General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-۲۸), and a demographic information questionnaire. Data were analyzed by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) for windows, version ۲۴, at the significance level of p <۰.۰۵ and highly significant level of p<۰.۰۰۱. The multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and multiple regression were employed as Statistical tests.Results: A total of ۲۰۱ medical students participated, ۶۰.۳% being female. The adjusted mean score of COVID-۱۹ anxiety was ۱۱.۰۵ (۱.۹۱), and the mean scores obtained for GHQ۲۸ subscales, including somatic, anxiety, social dysfunction, and depression symptoms, were ۵.۸۲ (۴.۴۱), ۷.۷۵ (۳.۱۸), ۴.۴۹ (۵.۱۴), and ۱۰.۱۲ (۷.۲۵), respectively. Different factors, including gender and educational level, significantly affected the components of these two questionnaires. Based on linear regression model, anxiety/Insomnia and depression subscales of GHQ۲۸ questionnaire increased COVID-۱۹ anxiety levels.Conclusion: The COVID-۱۹-related anxiety level of medical students was mild. Female students and students with higher educational levels experienced more anxiety attributable to COVID-۱۹. The general anxiety and depression levels were mild. These data highlight that in critical circumstances such as the COVID-۱۹ pandemic, university authorities need to consider medical students’ psychological well-being.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , Anxiety , medical student , mental health