INFLUENCE OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE STATES OF MEDICAL STUDENTS ON THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN CONDITIONS OF MARTIAL LAW

Abstract

With the onset of a full-scale invasion, depressive disorders among the civilian population of Ukraine are becoming increasingly severe and are acquiring both a collective and individual character. This is facilitated by worries about loved ones who are at the front or in frontline regions, regular air raids that keep people in tension and uncertainty, constant shelling of civilians, and the expectation of negative developments any warning about an air raid, even in regions far from the front. The mental health of young people during wartime becomes critical due to the acute impact of traumatic events such as military operations, the loss of loved ones, forced migration, and general instability. According to research, war creates extraordinarily stressful conditions that increase the risk of developing mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Young people, who are at the stage of developing psycho-emotional stability, are particularly vulnerable to such influences. Studies show that even short-term contact with extreme situations can have long-term consequences for the mental health of young people, especially students. This article examines the correlation between the development of anxiety and depression in medical students and their academic performance. The conducted studies showed that most of the students had varying degrees of anxiety, some students were diagnosed with depression, and some were on the verge of a depressive disorder. Such threatening indicators of depressive disorders in second-year medical university students cannot but affect both their quality of life and the quality of their education, which was verified when comparing the success of individual subgroups of subjects. Most “excellent” and “good” grades were received by students who did not have manifestations of depressive disorders or had them to a lesser extent. Students who received excellent grades in the physiology exam, although they had varying degrees of anxiety, did not have signs of depression. Among the excellent students, only a small number were found to be on the verge of developing depression. Students who received satisfactory grades exhibited both depression and anxiety. These data indicate that medical students are at risk of developing depressive states during the war, which negatively affects their academic performance. This may have consequences in their professional activities in the future. This situation in higher medical institutions requires psychological support and assistance to applicants for higher education to adapt to studying during the war.