Anxious and Angry: Early Emotional Adaptation of Medical Students in a Situational Crisis on the Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic is an example of a situational crisis resulting in emotional destabilization. The aim of the study was to analyze changes in the level of anxiety and anger in medical students during the early adaptation to the situational crisis, and to estimate the risk factors for fear and anger in this group.

METHODS

Participants were 949 medical students (M = 22.88, SD = 4.10) in the first stage on March 2020, and 748 (M = 22.57, SD = 3.79) in the second stage on June 2020. The STAI, STAXI-2, and our own questionnaire were used.

RESULTS

First vs the second stage: anxiety state (p < 0.001), anger state (p = 0.326), and feeling angry (p < 0.05). The regression model (F(14.1681) = 79.01, p < 0.001) for the level of anxiety state explains 39% of the dependent variable variance (r² = 0.39). The model for the anger-state level (F(6.1689) = 68.04, p < 0.001)-19% (r² = 0.19).

CONCLUSIONS

During the early adaptation to the situational crisis, the general level of anxiety decreased, but anger was at the same level. The anxiety was explained by contact with potentially or objective infected persons, and the level of anger was based on the need for greater social support.

Medical students in the face of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an estimated risk of infection and the need for social support

OBJECTIVES

A pandemic triggers certain attitudes and behaviors, resulting in the need for adequate social support. The aim of the study was to determine the factors influencing the estimated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to assess the need for social support in a group of medical students.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The survey was conducted among 981 people, including 814 women and 167 men. For this purpose, a self-assessment survey with 22 multiple-choice questions was used. The online survey was conducted on March 20-April 2, 2020, which can be considered as the first stage of the pandemic in Poland.

RESULTS

The tested model for the subjective SARS-CoV-2 infection risk assessment explained 32.6% of the dependent variable variance (F(7.945) = 66.61, p < 0.001). The model for adherence to the recommendations for reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission explained 9.5% of the variability (F(8.943) = 12.39, p < 0.001), and the model for an increased need for social support due to the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic explained 27.4% of the variability (χ2(8) = 12.17, p = 0.144).

CONCLUSIONS

Factors important for estimating the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the need for social support in the group of medical students were determined. The subjective assessment of the stress level, infection symptoms experienced and the field of study proved to be crucial. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(4):473-84.