Medical students are known to have high levels of depression, anxiety and stress from the high-pressure environments that they study and train in. The coronavirus pandemic presents source of stress and anxiety to large populations in general, and to healthcare professionals in particular. This study was undertaken to assess the psychological effects of this pandemic on the mental health of medical students and trainees.¹
The perceived level of changes in attitude, social habits, and personal hygiene of students. A 10- item scale was used to determine the perceived level of change in attitude, social habits, and personal hygiene of students. 10-items were assessed on a 5-point scale to determine the change in attitude and own hygiene habits of students after the COV pandemic outbreak as described in the table shown. It was observed that 52% (n = 104) participant handwashing habits had changed very much followed by 14% (n = 28) participant handwashing habits had moderately altered after the outbreak. More than half proportion of the participants (53%, n = 106) avoid contact with people having flu-like symptoms. It has been observed that after the outbreak, participants concern for own individual necessity, and desires have changed very much as compared to previous days.
Similarly, few studies were conducted to assess the mental health of medical students during previous outbreak, and the study results suggested that the medical student's overall psychological health and learning has been adversely affected during previous pandemic outbreak due to significant reduction in their psychomotor concentration. Another study has suggested that when the SARS epidemic hit, it not only affect the mental health of medical staff but also sometimes may lead to psychological trauma.2 In total, 251 medical students who have been in home confinement accepted to participate in an online questionnaire survey. They completed depression, anxiety and stress scale, beck hopelessness scale and cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire.

Findings

Moderate to extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety and stress were reported by 57.4%, 51.0% and 31.4% of medical students, respectively. Based on the cut-off value of nine, 31.1% of the participants showed high levels of hopelessness. Hierarchical regression analysis identified four cognitive emotion regulation strategies as significant independent contributors to psychopathology above and beyond home confinement related variables. Self-blame positively predicted stress. Catastrophizing positively predicted anxiety and hopelessness. Refocusing on planning negatively predicted anxiety. Positive reappraisal negatively predicted hopelessness.³
In summary, the majority of medical students and Obstetrics and Gynaecology trainees had changed their behaviour related to coronavirus and around half of those surveyed had increased levels of worry and stress. The majority reported worry about their older relatives. In relation to actual mental health morbidity, only 7.3% of respondents had depression scores in the severely depressed range. Female medical students and junior doctors demonstrated significantly higher anxiety and depression scores than males.⁴

1. Pandey U, Corbett G, Mohan S, Reagu S, Kumar S, Farrell T, Lindow S. Anxiety, depression and behavioural changes in junior doctors and medical students associated with the coronavirus pandemic: a cross-sectional survey. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India. 2021 Feb;71(1):33-7.
2. Sharma R, Bansal P, Chhabra M, Bansal C, Arora M. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2-associated perceived stress and anxiety among indian medical students: A cross-sectional study. Asian Journal of Social Health and Behavior. 2021 Jul 1;4(3):98.
3. Saguem BN, Braham A, Romdhane I, Nasr SB. Psychological impact of home confinement due to coronavirus disease on medical students and its relationship with cognitive emotion regulation. The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice. 2021 Jun 23.
4. Pandey U, Corbett G, Mohan S, Reagu S, Kumar S, Farrell T, Lindow S. Anxiety, depression and behavioural changes in junior doctors and medical students associated with the coronavirus pandemic: a cross-sectional survey. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India. 2021 Feb;71(1):33-7.