Perceived medical school stress and the development of behavior and experience patterns in German medical students.
BACKGROUND
Longitudinal data about the development of health risks and resources in relation to the performance of medical students are limited.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the development of study-related experience and the correlation to performance.


METHODS
Medical students in the first (2006), second (2008), and fifth years (2011) of their studies were surveyed with standard instruments for quality of life, study-related behavior and experience, perceived medical school stress, anxiety and depression, and grades in their first major exam.


RESULTS
The proportion of students with a healthy behavior and experience pattern decreased from 47.3% in the first year to 36.9% in the second year and 17.6% in the fifth year. This corresponded to an increase in the proportion of students at risk for burnout (7.1% first, 20% second, 19% fifth year). Students with a healthy behavior and experience pattern scored higher in self-perceived performance (p < 0.05) and objective grades. Stress and risk for burnout were important predictors for anxiety and depression.


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease in health and the increase in risk patterns indicate a need for prevention and health promotion that should not only focus on individual behavior but also address the contextual factor of study organization within medical school.
Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Friedensau Adventist University, Germany. edgar.voltmer@thh-friedensau.de
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Voltmer
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Kötter
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Spahn
D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult