The Impact of COVID-19 on Health and Well-Being: Foreign Medical Students in Eastern Europe

Abstract

Approximately 350,000 foreign students, mostly from India, study medicine in Eastern Europe (EE). However, there is a dearth of information about the COVID-19 impact on this population who study at universities in Eastern Europe (e.g., Russia, Ukraine and Belarus). The aim of this study was to examine the pandemic impact on such students and to generate useful information that may be applied to their health, well-being and learning experience. A cross-sectional survey of Indian students at a Russian medical university was conducted. The data collection instrument included questions about background characteristics, fear of COVID-19, burnout, mental distress, eating behavior, substance use, resilience and adherence to World Health Organization prevention recommendations. Male and female students were compared to determine the COVID-19 impact based on gender status. A total of 497 students participated in this study. Among the survey participants, 92.3% reported being vaccinated. No significant difference was found among male and female respondents regarding fear and burnout associated with COVID-19. Approximately 40% of the students reported a deterioration in psycho-emotional well-being due to COVID-19, and such students had higher levels of COVID-19-related fear, burnout, substance use and lower resilience. Nearly half of the respondents reported unhealthy eating behavior (49.7%) and weight gain (46.3%) associated with COVID-19. In addition, students who adhered to prevention measures of mask wearing and social distancing had less COVID-19 fear and burnout, as well as more resilience. This study promotes an understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on the psycho-emotional conditions of male and female medical students from India studying abroad.

From Academic Resilience to Academic Burnout among International University Students during the Post-COVID-19 New Normal: An Empirical Study in Taiwan

“…In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, research that investigated foreign medical students in Eastern Europe reported that 39.1% of respondents presented psycho-emotional issues due to the pandemic, including depression (12.9%), exhaustion (19.9%), loneliness (25.2%), nervousness (20.0%), and anger (23.3%). Moreover, up to 97.4% and 90.8% of them were positive for emotional exhaustion and cynicism [ 23 ]. An online-based cross-sectional study among undergraduate students at Jordan showed that 6.6% of participants were found to have symptoms of burnout during distance learning period [ 40 ].…”

“…As a result, they are at a higher risk for academic burnout, resulting in negative effects on their emotions, their engagement in the learning process, and their mental well-being [ 19 , 22 ]. Indeed, a cross-sectional survey of Indian students at a Russian medical university found that 40% of respondents showing a deterioration in psycho-emotional well-being and a high level of burnout due to the pandemic [ 23 ]. There seems to be no evidence of such studies, however, being done with international students in Taiwan.…”

Shifts in Emancipative Values during Times of Crises: Longitudinal Evidence from the Covid-19 Pandemic in Russia

“…Social and economic difficulties have affected the mental state of many Russians: concerns about the consequences of the pandemic for health and economic well-being became widespread (Konstantinov et al, 2022;Reshetnikov et al, 2020). Overall, abrupt changes in social and economic life induced by the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia have created conditions that, from a theoretical standpoint, lead to a decline in the support for emancipative values.…”

Smartphone addiction and cross-cultural adjustment among overseas Chinese students: The role of emotion regulation beliefs and strategies

“…The Russian–Ukrainian conflict has affected the mental and emotional state of university students in the region, with most reporting warfear about the war, stress, and angere ( Kurapov et al, 2022 ). In addition, COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in Eastern Europe and this pandemic can have an impact on international students’ anxiety, stress, and concerns about academic delays ( Konstantinov et al, 2022 ). The unstable regional situation and the outbreak of COVID-19 may have a double mental impact on international students at the emerging adulthood.…”