Post-traumatic Growth and Resilience among American Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant psychological impact on medical professionals, including medical students, many who have been caring for patients on the frontlines. Understanding how medical students perceive their stressful life experiences is important as the mental health of these future physicians directly impacts their ability to care for patients. We assessed for post-traumatic growth and resilience in the face of traumatic events among a cohort of medical students that attended a medical school located in an early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between October 29, 2020 and December 1, 2020, medical students at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City were surveyed on various stressful life events, including COVID-19. We identified specific resilience behaviors, including establishing a supportive social network, relying on a moral compass, and using cognitive flexibility, that medical students commonly used to cope with traumatic experiences. Compared with students who perceived COVID-19 as their most stressful life event, students who perceived other events, such as family issues or serious illness, as most stressful experienced less COVID-related stress (t = -2.2, p = .03), greater posttraumatic growth (t = 4.3, p < .001), and demonstrated more resilient behaviors including establishing and nurturing a supportive social network (t = 2.2, p = .03), developing brain fitness (t = 2.2, p = .03), and finding meaning and purpose in things (t = 2.9, p = .006). This suggests that stressful experiences prior to or in parallel with COVID-19 encouraged posttraumatic growth and development of resilience behaviors that were protective to COVID-19-related stress.

Prevalence and factors associated with insomnia among medical students in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: characterization and associated factors

“…College students, as a special group, may have experienced a greater psychological impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, which could be due to increased academic performance concerns in online learning and drastic reduction social activities [ 11 ]. According to previous studies, college students are more vulnerable to various impacts from sudden changes in the COVID-19 pandemic [ 17 ]. These constant COVID-19 pandemic-related stressors may adversely affect the sleep quality of medical students.…”

Coping methods among Polish students during Covid-19 pandemic

“…Rezultaty badań wyglądają obiecująco, ponieważ znacząca przewaga pozytywnych metod radzenia sobie ze stresem jest korzystnym zjawiskiem w kontekście reakcji na światowy kryzys. Przewagę pozytywnych metod nad negatywnymi stwierdzono też w innych dostępnych badaniach, zarówno polskich [26], jak i przeprowadzonych wśród studentów z innych kręgów kulturowych [27,28]. Czynnikami, które najmocniej oddziałują na ten wynik, są aktywne działania, wykorzystanie wsparcia informacyjnego oraz planowanie -są to cechy, jakimi charakteryzują się odporne i dobrze zaadaptowane społeczeństwa [29].…”

“…Pozytywne nastawienie, powszechne wśród studentów, może mieć swoje źródło w intensywnym poszukiwaniu kontaktu z innymi oraz w poszukiwaniu wsparcia. Studenci w dużym stopniu opierali się na swojej sieci społecznej [28], co było możliwe, gdyż w tej grupie wiekowej kontakt online jest równie wartościowy jak kontakt na żywo i mógł stanowić substytut bezpośredniej relacji. Relacje z rodziną również stanowiły istotny element adaptacji do stresujących okoliczności [31].…”

Prevalence and factors associated with insomnia among medical students in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: characterization and associated factors

“…These constant COVID-19 pandemic-related stressors may adversely affect the sleep quality of medical students. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of college students has been affected to varying degrees (15). Satici B et al found that fear of COVID-19 may lead to severe psychological problems in individuals, which in turn may reduce people's satisfaction with their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic (16).…”

“…Previous research reported indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic and dramatic changes in learning styles pose signi cant threats to medical students' physical and mental health, such as fear of the COVID-19 pandemic. The further development of COVID-19 fear may lead to the occurrence of stress, depression, anxiety psychological disorders and endocrine disorders, growing fears of COVID-19 can trigger a range of serious physical dysfunctions, such as insomnia(15). Research had shown that fears of COVID-19, including fear of the future and fear of contracting the COVID-19, as well as concerns about their own health, which is linked to poor mental health problems (46).…”