A Comparison of Stress Perception in International and Local First Semester Medical Students Using Psychometric, Psychophysiological, and Humoral Methods

Daniel Huhn, Carolin Schmid, Rebecca Erschens, Florian Junne, Anne Herrmann-Werner, Andreas Möltner, Wolfgang Herzog and Christoph Nikendei
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Daniel Huhn: Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
Carolin Schmid: Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
Rebecca Erschens: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tubingen, Eberhard-Karls-University Tubingen, 72076 Tubingen, Germany
Florian Junne: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tubingen, Eberhard-Karls-University Tubingen, 72076 Tubingen, Germany
Anne Herrmann-Werner: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tubingen, Eberhard-Karls-University Tubingen, 72076 Tubingen, Germany
Andreas Möltner: Competence Centre for Examinations in Medicine, Baden-Württemberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Wolfgang Herzog: Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany
Christoph Nikendei: Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: (1) Medical doctors and medical students show increased psychological stress levels. International medical students seem to be particularly vulnerable. (2) We compared different methods of assessing stress levels in international and local first year medical students. First, study participants completed questionnaires related to stress, depression, empathy, and self-efficacy (MBI, PSQ, PHQ-9, JSPE-S, and GSE) at three separate points in time (T1 to T3). Second, their heart rate variabilities (HRVs) were recorded in an oral examination, a seminar, and in a relaxing situation. Third, hair samples were collected at the beginning and at the end of the semester to assess the cortisol concentration. (3) Included were 20 international and 20 local first semester medical students. At T1, we found considerable differences between international and local students in the JSPE-S; at T2 in the MBI factor “professional efficacy”, the PHQ-9, and in the JSPE-S; and at T3 in the MBI factors “cynicism” and “professional efficacy”, the PHQ-9, and in the JSPE-S. International and local students also differed concerning their HRVs during relaxation. Over the course of the semester, international students showed changes in the MBI factors “emotional exhaustion” and “professional efficacy”, the PHQ-9, and the GSE. Local students showed changes in the GSE. No effects were found for students’ hair cortisol concentrations. (4) All participants showed low levels of stress. However, while international students experienced their stress levels to decrease over the course of the semester, local students found their stress levels to increase.

Keywords: undergraduate medical education; international students; stress; heart rate variabilities; hair cortisol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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