Medical student psychological distress and academic performance
Claire Dendle1,2, Julie Baulch1, Rebecca Pellicano1,3
1a School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health , Monash University , Clayton , Australia.
Medical Teacher
|January 23, 2018
Summary
Medical student psychological distress, measured by Kessler psychological distress scale (K10) and General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), showed little impact on academic performance. Stressors like keeping up with knowledge were common.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Psychology
- Student Well-being
Background:
- The relationship between psychological distress and academic performance in medical students is under-examined.
- Workplace and study-related stressors may impact student mental health and academic outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of psychological distress on medical students' academic performance.
- To identify common workplace and study-related stressors affecting medical students.
Main Methods:
- A one-year prospective cohort study involving 126 medical students in Melbourne, Australia.
- Validated psychological distress scales (K10, GHQ-28) and stressor questionnaires were administered at three time points.
- Academic outcome scores were correlated with psychological distress measures.
Main Results:
- Psychological distress prevalence increased from 33.1% to 47.4% over the year.
- No significant correlation was found between K10 scores and academic performance.
- A weak negative correlation was observed between GHQ-28 scores and academic performance at the final time point.
- Common stressors included keeping up with knowledge, the need to perform well, and fear of negative feedback.
Conclusions:
- Psychological distress in medical students demonstrated a poor correlation with academic performance.
- Identifying and mitigating workplace stressors is crucial for supporting medical student well-being.
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