Volume 6

Number 2, July 2024

Academic stress and its Psychological impact on Undergraduate Medical Students during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47648/zhswmcj.2024.v0602.07

Ansari M1 , Kabir MA2 , Kabir MH3 , Mubaraka R4 , Rahman S5 , Basher MS6

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 is an emerging disease has a wide range of effects on all spheres of life, students’ academicperformance and psychological health in particular. Objective: To assess the academic stress and its psychologicalimpact on undergraduate medical students during COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods: A descriptivecross-sectional study was conducted among 311 under-graduate medical students of purposively selected fiveprivate medical colleges in Dhaka, Shariatpur and Kishoreganj districts from August to December 2021. PerceivedStress (PS) was measured with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), data were collected using pretested mailedquestionnaire.

Results: Mean age of the respondents was 21.22 ± 1.18 years; 181(58.20%) of the participantswere females, 265(85.2%) were Muslim. About three-fourths 221(71.06%) had no inclination to online learning,203(65.27%) had limited or restricted online network status; 160(51.45%) felt stress due to frequent examinations.More than one-third 106(34.08%) never experienced peer competition. Two-thirds 208(66.88%) of the respodentshad moderate, 64(20.6%) low level and 39(12.5%) had high level of Perceived Stress Score (PSS) with meanPS score of 18.43±7.35. The mean PS score was low in the age group of 25 to 29 years which is statisticallysignificant (p<0.05), PS score was significant for attending year (p<0.05). Two-fifths 130(41.80%) male studentshad higher mean perceived stress score than their female counterparts which is insignificant statistical (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The participants were incompetent to handle personal problems; incapable to control irritability andstress; fail to cope with the assigned tasks; get nervous, feel anger and get agitated for facing unexpected events.

Keywords: Academic stress, Psychological impact, Impact of COVID-19, Perceived stress Score


  1. Assistant Professor, Community Medicine

    Popular Medical College, Dhaka

  2. Lecturer

    Community Medicine Popular Medical College, Dhaka

  3. Associate Professor, Community Medicine

    Jahurul Islam Medical College, Bajitpur, Kishoreganj

  4. Assistant Professor

    Community Medicine, Popular Medical College, Dhaka

  5. Assistant Professor

    Community Medicine, Popular Medical College, Dhaka

  6. Professor, Community Medicine

    Popular Medical College, Dhanmondi, Dhaka

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Volume 6, Number 2, July 2024
Page: 42-47