The Changes in Stress Coping, Alcohol Use, Cigarette Smoking and Physical Activity during COVID-19 Related Lockdown in Medical Students in Poland

Abstract

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly limited social contacts, thus contributing to deepening isolation. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 exerted on humanity not only a physical impact but also a psychological one, often increasing the feeling of stress. The long-term effects of such a state could include the management of depression, so our study aimed to analyze groups of medical students in different periods of the pandemic (at the beginning of the pandemic, after half a year of the pandemic, after one year of the pandemic) in order to assess the impact of this situation on coping with stress. The impact of the pandemic on the development of stress factors such as alcohol consumption and smoking was also studied. The level of physical activity in the context of coping with an uncertain situation was also assessed. The impact of the above-mentioned factors on the behavior of students, including the Mini-COPE questionnaire, AUDIT test, the Fagerström test and the IPAQ questionnaire was analyzed. It has been shown that as the pandemic and the lockdown progressed, patients consumed more often or larger amounts of alcohol, smoked more cigarettes, and levels of physical activity decreased. All these factors may have had some impact on the deterioration of coping with stress among the respondents, which would indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly contributed to an increase in the sense of stress among the students.

Lifestyle, Physical Activity and Dietary Habits of Medical Students of Wroclaw Medical University during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…According to the World Health Organisation, tobacco kills more than eight million people each year, including both smokers and non-smokers who are exposed to passive smoking. In our study, an increased number of people smoking cigarettes was observed, which was also confirmed by the results of studies by other authors [ 36 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. After 6 months of the pandemic, an over two-fold increase in the number of smokers was observed, despite the fact that a part of the research group declared having quit smoking.…”

COVID-19 Fear, Health Behaviors, and Subjective Health Status of Call Center Workers

“…In the case of stress management, positive coping has decreased. These results correspond to a study comparing the beginning of and six months into the pandemic [ 20 ]. Under the influence of the pandemic, social distancing, lockdown, and reduced social contact induce high stress in people.…”

“…There were no differences between the pre and current pandemic in smoking and high-risk drinking cases. However, some studies have reported increased smoking and drinking during the pandemic [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. These results may differ because of the measurement.…”

“…If considered coping resources are sufficient, a positive response may increase; otherwise, a maladaptive response may ensue [ 23 ]. Thus, when the support system is broken due to increased uncertainty and lack of social contact during the pandemic, maladaptive coping such as denial, use of psychoactive substances, suppression of activities, and self-blame increases [ 20 ]. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen the support system for call center workers’ psychological health in the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Physical Activity among Medical Students from the Western Balkans

“…A study by Kim et al [59] conducted among health college students in South Korea, and the study by Kosendiak et al [60] conducted among medical students in Poland indicate that there is a significant decrease in PA during COVID-19 pandemic and after pandemic measures have been reduced in relation to time before the beginning of the pandemic. Our study was conducted before the pandemic and future repeated research on the Western Balkan medical student population could have possible benefit because we would be able to establish if changes in PA levels were made due to changes in lifestyle of student population in past two years.…”