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Summary
Interns experience stress from inadequate sleep and support. The quality of an intern's social support system is the primary factor in determining their distress levels during their internship year.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Psychology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Internship years are critical developmental periods for physicians.
- Understanding stressors and support systems is vital for intern well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate mood states and psychophysiologic functions in interns.
- To identify key stressors and supportive factors during the internship.
- To determine the relationship between social support and intern distress.
Main Methods:
- Periodic evaluation of 27 interns' mood and psychophysiologic functions.
- End-of-year interviews to identify stressors and support.
- Analysis of factors contributing to emotional distress.
Main Results:
- Key stressors included inadequate sleep, time for personal matters, and physician support.
- Camaraderie with fellow house officers was a significant stress reducer.
- Higher emotional distress correlated with less social support and increased isolation.
Conclusions:
- Social support quality is the primary determinant of intern distress.
- Interventions should focus on enhancing social support systems for interns.
- Sleep duration alone did not predict dysphoria levels.