Examining the Relationship Between Assertiveness and Anxiety in First- and Second-Year US Medical Students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychology
• Student Well-being

Background:

• Medical school curricula can be demanding, potentially impacting student mental health.
• Understanding psychological factors like anxiety and assertiveness is crucial for supporting medical students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between anxiety and assertiveness in preclinical medical students.
• To identify potential psychological correlations affecting student development in early medical training.

Main Methods:

• A remote survey was conducted at a single institution.
• Preclinical medical students were the study population.
• Data on anxiety and assertiveness levels were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• A significant inverse correlation was found between anxiety and assertiveness.
• Higher reported anxiety was associated with lower assertiveness scores.
• The findings were specific to the surveyed preclinical medical student cohort.

Conclusions:

• Anxiety and assertiveness appear to be inversely related in preclinical medical students.
• These findings suggest a need for mental health support and assertiveness training for medical students.
• Further research can explore interventions to mitigate anxiety and enhance assertiveness in this population.