Psychological well-being and academic performance of Ukrainian medical students under the burden of war: a cross-sectional study
Abstract
Introduction The mental health of medical students is a key factor for academic performance and the delivery of high-quality medical care in the future. Globally, medical students face numerous challenges that can affect their education. Living and studying facing the war has a crucial influence on medical students’ education and daily life. The study aimed to determine the psychological well-being and academic achievements of Ukrainian medical students who lived in the rear areas after the 18 months of the Russian–Ukrainian war. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted at I.Ya. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University. We analyzed the psychological well-being and educational achievements of medical students from the second to fifth year of Medical Faculty using the self-report scales DASS-21 and IES-R. A total of 776 students filled out the DASS-21 scale and 491 IES-R scale, respectively. Results Following the first 18 months of the war, 62.5, 59.6, and 58.8% of Ukrainian medical students self-reported signs of stress, anxiety, and depression, respectively. Severe and extremely severe depressive symptoms were observed in 25.6% of students, anxiety in 31.9%, and stress in 29.7%, with a higher prevalence among female students. Additionally, 44.2% of responders had significant symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, with the highest scores on the hyperarousal subscale (>37). Academic performance in 2023 was significantly lower compared to the pre-war period…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.
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