Effects of post-COVID anxiety and depression on first-semester medical students
Keywords:
Mental health, Anxiety, Depression, Post-pandemicAbstract
Globalization and the advancement of new technologies have transformed interpersonal relationships and social standards. Virtuality and social distancing generated by the SARS-CoV-2 health crisis showed an increase in cases of psychopathologies worldwide, significantly affecting young university students and constituting a relevant public health problem. The prevalence of psychological conditions in adolescents highlights the importance of promoting debate on the subject, which motivated the interest of first-year medical students at the Cosmos Private Technical University (UNITEPC). The objective of the study focused on the identification and monitoring of cases of anxiety and depression in this group during the post-pandemic context. To address the problem, a socio-critical approach with mixed methodology was adopted. The research, descriptive and with a synchronous longitudinal design, applied inductive-deductive reasoning. The Hamilton Rating Scales test was used to measure anxiety and depression in first-semester students, being carried out at two time points. The results obtained from the Hamilton test revealed worrying levels of anxiety and depression in the sample analyzed. Psychological effects were observed including depressive disorders, social isolation, loss of motivation and high levels of academic stress. Given these findings, the incorporation of a psychopedagogue is recommended to accompany and support students who present moderate to severe symptoms.
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