Peri-Traumatic Distress and Its Relationship to Resilience and Coping Among Medical Students in Malaysia During COVID-19 Lockdown

Abstract

Background: Medical students are not spared from the challenges related to the Covid-19 lockdown. The fear and uncertainties may lead to traumatic symptoms and test their resilience and sense of coping. Thus, this study aims to determine the prevalence of peri-traumatic distress symptoms and its association with the level of resilience and the coping strategies used during the lockdown among medical students.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional online questionnaire survey involving medical students from a public university in Malaysia. It was conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown or Movement Control Order (MCO) where the students were asked to fill in the COVID-19 Peri-traumatic Distress Index (CPDI), Brief COPE Inventory, and Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRS-25).Results: A total of 282 clinical and 172 pre-clinical medical students were involved. Peri-traumatic distress symptoms were reported by 27% out of the total students. This study found that those who were having peritraumatic distress symptoms were from the pre-clinical years, had poor internet access, as well as lower resilience levels, and used more dysfunctional coping strategies. Pre-clinical medical students with difficult internet access were eight times more likely to have peritraumatic distress symptoms.Conclusions: Given the high level of peri-traumatic distress symptoms reported by medical students during the lockdown, it is vital to identify the vulnerable students, assess their needs and risks to mental health problems during this challenging time as the pandemic is still ongoing with countries going in and out of lockdown depending on the cases at the time. The university administration for each University in Malaysia will need to have a clear academic guideline and policy as well as providing improved infrastructure to minimize the distress faced by medical students.

Internet Addiction among Young Adult University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Peritraumatic Distress, Attachment, and Alexithymia

“…The recent literature that has been interested in investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young adult university students’ psychological well-being has reported a worrying increase in psychopathological symptoms [ 20 , 21 ] and IA [ 17 , 18 ]. Consequently, this study aimed to further increase the knowledge on the possible relevant risk and/or protective factors that may exacerbate or mitigate the effect of the pandemic on the psychopathological risk and the IA risk among young adult university students.…”

“…Indeed, the government of Italy and most states around the world recommended the remote switching of academic activities, including distance-learning classes, access to online books, the shift to online assessments, and the cancellation of in-person graduation ceremonies. Many students have shown difficulties in adapting functionally to these challenges, manifesting more concerns about their academic performances [ 19 ] and an increase in post-traumatic stress disorder-like symptoms, defined in terms of peritraumatic distress symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depressive symptoms, specific phobia, avoidance behaviors, and compulsive behaviors) [ 20 , 21 ]. Notably, the pre-pandemic studies widely showed the comorbidity between IA and other psychological problems, especially depression and anxiety symptoms [ 22 , 23 ].…”

“…A growing body of research focused on university students’ psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic has evidenced a worrying increase in peritraumatic distress symptoms [ 20 , 21 ] and IA levels [ 17 , 18 ], especially among young adults. In this context, a key role played by the quality of attachment and alexithymia on both the psychopathological risk resulting from COVID-19 [ 51 , 69 , 76 , 77 ] and IA has been reported [ 71 , 80 , 87 ].…”

Long-term psychological profile of general population following COVID-19 outbreak: symptom trajectories and evolution of psychopathological network

“…large-scale return to work, economic recovery, increases in workloads), while the pandemic control situation was still unstable with emergence of sporadic cases and local resurgences (Shi et al ., 2021 a ). The instability might arouse senses of uncertainty and insecurity, which in turn enhanced psychological vulnerability (Mohamed et al ., 2021 ).…”

“…The findings indicated that in the aftermath of initial peak, general population not only showed greater psychological vulnerability, but also had special psychopathological structures warranting different intervention strategies. The greater centrality of anxiety and somatic symptoms during this phase might be attributable to senses of uncertainty caused by social instability (Mohamed et al ., 2021 ). Our findings indicate that special attention should be paid to this specific period.…”