Study-related health and behavior patterns of medical students: A longitudinal study.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about specific health risks and resources and their development influencing medical students' stress.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the development of quality of life and study-related behavior and experience patterns among medical students.


METHODS
Data were collected in the first (n = 112 of 182 in 2006) and the fourth semesters (n = 164 of 176 in 2008). The instruments "Work-Related Behavior and Experience Patterns" (AVEM, including four main patterns: "Health", "Unambitious," "Overexertion," "Burnout") and "Short Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12)" were used at both points in time.


RESULTS
The medical students scored significantly lower on mental health compared with reference samples of young adults. The proportion of students with a healthy pattern decreased from 47.3% (95% CI 38.1-56.5%) in the first semester to 36.9% (29.4-44.4%) in the fourth semester. This corresponded to an increase in the proportion of students at risk for burnout from 7.1% (2.3-11.9%) to 20% (13.8-26.2%). At both time points, female students had a higher risk for overexertion and a lower prevalence of a healthy pattern than male students.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data provide evidence for a decrease in the healthy pattern and an increase in the burnout pattern. Intervention is needed, especially for students at risk for burnout.
Voltmer
Edgar
E
Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Friedensau Adventist University, An der Ihle 19, Friedensau 39291, Germany. edgar.voltmer@thh-friedensau.de
Rosta
Judith
J
Aasland
Olaf G
OG
Spahn
Claudia
C
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D015438:Health Behavior; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult