Training methods for correction of behavioral rigidity in medical students during lifestyle changes

Aim: To empirically investigate the possibilities of training methods for behavioral rigidity correction during lifestyle changes due to internal displacement of medical students.

Materials and Methods: Three stages of the research were realized. The current state of mental health, resilience, coping styles and behavioral rigidity of medical students was established at the stating stage, using Positive Mental Health Scale, Connor-Davidson resilience scale, Coping inventory for stressful situations and Self-assessment of mental states: Rigidity scale that were reapplied at the control stage. The formative stage was aimed at objectification, assessment and correction of rigid behavior, as well as improvement of adaptive capabilities of internally displaced medical students by training methods. The training developed by the authors was implemented at this stage. The control stage allowed to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed training program in the contexts of mental health, coping strategies, resilience and behavioral rigidity.

Results: The implementation of training methods was effective in overcoming the complex of symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress connected with lifestyle changes due to internal displacement, leading to lack of resilience and psychological protection in the form of behavioral rigidity and maladaptive coping styles of medical students.

Conclusions: Behavioral rigidity of future doctors during lifestyle changes under the pressure of internal displacement turned out to be a relevant empirically identified problem affecting their quality of life, mental health and psychological well-being in the new conditions. As such, this training technology is useful in psychoprophylactic correctional work and psychosocial support for vulnerable groups of young adults, which include internally displaced medical students, and can be applied in psychoeducational work with them.