Psychological distress among healthcare students in Poland from COVID-19 to war on Ukraine: a cross-sectional exploratory study

Abstract

ObjectivesHealthcare students went through a rough time in March 2022 due to extreme changes in the educational system (moving from online to stationary learning) and Ukrainian-Russian war circumstances. Our study aims to update knowledge about psychological distress and its impact on healthcare students in Poland after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by intense and political instability in Europe.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study on healthcare students from Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland, from March to April 2022. The questionnaire included subjective retrospective 5-point Likert-scales ratings of anxiety, stress, and depression and self-reported information on various psychological distress predictors.ResultsThe anxiety levels at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic were higher than in April 2022. There was no significant reduction in stress and depression. Females had higher initial anxiety levels than post-pandemic levels. Higher reported levels of anxiety, stress, and depression were significantly correlated with political instability in Eastern Europe (Spearman ranxiety = 0.178, rstress = 0.169, rdepression = 0.154, p ≤ 0.001, respectively). The concern about moving towards online education showed a significant association only with stress level (rstress = 0.099, p = 0.034). We also observed a positive correlation between anxiety, stress, and depression and deteriorating sleep quality (Spearman ranxiety,=0.325, rstress = 0.410, rdepression = 0.440, p < 0.001), the feeling of worsening relationships with family and peers (ranxiety = 0.325, rstress = 0.343, rdepression = 0.379, p < 0.001), and the sense of loss of efficient time management (ranxiety = 0.321, rstress = 0.345, rdepression = 0.410, p < 0.001).ConclusionThroughout the progression of the Ukrainian war and the COVID-19 pandemic, females reported improved (lower levels) levels of anxiety. Nevertheless, the current levels of self-reported anxiety post-pandemic remain alarming, while stress and depression levels remained unchanged. Mental, psychological, and social support activities are required for healthcare students, especially those away from their families. Time management, academic performance, and coping skills in relation to the additional stressors of war and the global pandemic require further research in this group of students.

The war in Ukraine and the dynamics of PTSD and depression in Poles aged 50+

“…However, the 2022 data obtained in the present research do not necessarily reflect mental health conditions solely due to the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Mental health problems may be associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the unfavourable political and economic situation and fatigue from several years of crises (trauma/crisis fatigue) (Hisato et al, 2022), but also with past exposure to other types of trauma (Rzeszutek et al, 2023). A German study (Weierstall-Pust et al, 2022) showed that although the war in Ukraine and the climate crisis were rated as highly stressful, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significantly more negative impact on psychological well-being.…”

“…The two countries also share a common historical experience. The psychological crisis in Poles after Russia's invasion of Ukraine was a result of an overlap of many factors (the COVID-19 pandemic, internal political changes and the deterioration of the economic situation, the fear of Russian aggression against Poland) (Centrum Badania Opinii Społecznej, 2023;Hisato et al, 2022;Kacprzak, 2023;Laboratorium Badań Medioznawczych UW, 2022). Comparative analyses of populations from Ukraine, Taiwan and Poland (March 2022) indicated that more than 80% of Poles were concerned about the situation in Ukraine as described in the media, 52.8% followed current news reports for more than an hour a day, and 57.2% presented with clinical manifestations of PTSD.…”