Resilience, Mental Health Impact and COVID-19 Related Mental Health Determinants among Medical Students during COVID-19 Epidemic
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Abstract
Objective: To study the level of resilience in medical students and how resilience is associated with mental health during COVID-19 epidemic.
Method: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The participants are the medical students in the academic year of 2020 from Vajira Hospital. The outcome measures include 1) general personal data and the negative impact encountered during COVID-19 outbreak, 2) Resilience evaluation questionnaire and 3) depression anxiety stress scale (DASS-21). The statistical analyses used include descriptive statistics and analytical statistics, which are Pearson Chi-square, Pearson’s correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis.
Results: From the total participants of 255, most of them have normal level of resilience. The highest reported mental health impact from COVID-19 outbreak is anxiety. The COVID-19 related academic problems are associated with stress (p=0.002) and depression (p=0.001). Lacking of consultant is associated with anxiety (p=0.009). And personal financial problem is associated with stress (p=0.001). Resilience is inversely related to stress, anxiety and depression (r=-0.471, -0.493 and -0.545 respectively, p<0.01). From stepwise multiple regression analysis, resilience in the domain of will power together with emotional stability can predict stress and anxiety. The variance of stress is 24.5 percent (R2= 0.245, p<0.01). And the variance of anxiety is 27.3 percent (R2= 0.273, p<0.01). Will power domain is the key predictor of stress (β =-0.344, p<0.01) and anxiety (β =-0.321, p<0.01). Will power domain is also the only domain that can statistically predict depression (β =-0.626, p<0.01). The variance of depression is 39.1 percent (R2= 0.391, p<0.01).
Conclusion: Resilience in the domain of will power is the main protective factor against mental health problem in medical students, especially during the COVID-19 epidemic. Therefore, In order to strengthen the ability to cope with stress, medical school should promote resilience enhancing activities, particularly in the will power and emotional stability domains.
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