Mental Health Problems among Medical Students during COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross- Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: COVID-19, which originated in China, became a pandemic affecting more than 180 countries. By April 2020, India had announced lockdown in an attempt to control the spread of the virus. Lack of social interaction and apprehension about the studies had created emotional disturbances among medical students. Methods: The study was done in a medical college situated in Central Travancore, Kerala, between 2020 April 20 to May 31. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and Impact Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) were administered in Google forms to the MBBS batch WhatsApp groups. Results: Out of 320 responses from medical students, 239 were females, and 82 were male students. 56% of male students and 54% of female students have mild to severe depressive symptoms, 58% of male students and 54% of female students have symptoms of anxiety, and 63% of male students and 50% of female students experienced mild to severe stress.68% of males and 62% of females have higher Impact events scale. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students during the COVID lockdown period. There is a significant difference between genders in scores of anxiety, stress and impact of events. This shows the need for resilience training among medical students.