The journey of medical field students: uncovering medical student syndrome, personality traits, and their interactions

Faculty Medicine Year: 2025
Type of Publication: ZU Hosted Pages:
Authors:
Journal: BMC Psychology Springer Volume:
Keywords : , journey , medical field students: uncovering medical    
Abstract:
Background Medical students commonly experience Medical Student Syndrome (MSS), a condition where they compare their vague symptoms to the medical problems and life-threatening diseases they are learning about in medical school, even though their health profile is clean. Our research aims to investigate the symptoms of MSS (anxiety-related illness) and hypochondriasis, as well as their impact on the lives of students. Additionally, we aim to study various types of personalities and, finally, investigate the demographic determinants of MSS and their interactions with various personality types among medical students in Egypt in the period between September and December 2023. Methods This analytical cross-sectional study targeted 300 students recruited from the medical field at Zagazig University. The data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, which consisted of four main components: demographic data, the MSS questionnaire, the personality-type questionnaire, and the MSS’s impact. The collected data was coded and analyzed using R statistical software. Results Out of the 300 medical field students recruited, 261 (87.0%) were Egyptian, 164 (54.67%) were female, and 216 (72.0%) were medical students without co-morbidity. 181 (60.33%) were aware of the MSS. Only 11 (3.67%) students met all criteria of the DSM-V for anxiety disorder, while 20 (6.67%) students met all criteria of the DSM-IV for hypochondriasis. The most common anxiety symptoms were difficulty sleeping (50.00%), lack of productivity or difficulty concentrating (44.0%), and rapid heart rate (31.67%). In terms of personality, being sympathetic and warm received the highest median of 6.00 while being critical and quarrelsome received the lowest median score of 2.00. The health anxiety score significantly negatively correlates with dependable and self-disciplined personality traits, while it significantly positively correlates with anxious and upset personality traits. Conclusion Around one-third of the sample experienced preoccupation with fears of having a serious disease, with a trivial number of students meeting the criteria for an anxiety disorder or hypochondriasis. More than one-third reported negative impacts on sleep, productivity, concentration, and heart rate. Females, Egyptian students, those from rural areas, and dentistry students had higher anxiety scores, whereas medical students had the lowest scores.
   
     
 
       

Author Related Publications

  • Samar Ahmed Ahmed Amer, "ASSESSMENT OF SOME APPROACHES FOR WEIGHT REDUCTION AMONG ADULT FEMALES;AN INTERVENTIONAL STUDY AT ZAGAZIG UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL", Z.U.M.J.Vol.20; N.2, 2014 More
  • Samar Ahmed Ahmed Amer, "Study of p16 promoter methylation in Egyptian colorectal cancer patients", wiley, 2019 More
  • Samar Ahmed Ahmed Amer, "Prevalence and Determinants of Mobile Health Applications Usage: A National Descriptive Study", Frontiers, 2022 More
  • Samar Ahmed Ahmed Amer, "The prevalence of undiagnosed attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder among undergraduate medical students: a survey from Pakistan", Springer, 2024 More
  • Samar Ahmed Ahmed Amer, "Fear of COVID-19, Stress and Coping Strategies among Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic’s Second Wave: A Quasi-Intervention Study", Bentham Science Publishers B.V, 2022 More

Department Related Publications

  • Amany Rashad Aboelsoud, "Effect of Food Safety Educational Intervention on Food handlers’ Practices in Cafeterias at Zagazig University Campus, Egypt", colegio de farmaceuticos de la provincia de buenos aireso, 2022 More
  • Amaal Ahmed Moustafa Elbadawy Moustafa, "Epidemiological Aspects of Various Rheumatic Diseases in an Egyptian Population (Sharkia Governorate). S.A.El Badawy, M.Mekawi, A.A.ElBadawy and A.El Hewala. Arthritis + Rheuma By Verlag EBM Gmbh No.9, Germany, November 1987", Arthritis + Rheuma By Verlag EBM Gmbh No.9, Germany, November 1987., 1987 More
  • Amaal Ahmed Moustafa Elbadawy Moustafa, "Monitoring the performance of rural physicians in Sharkiya Governorate in diarrhea case management and prevention. S.M.Wasef, A.A.El Badawy, s.EL Lethy and N.A.Sherif The 8th congress of Kuwait Medical Association Kuwait, November ", The 8th congress of Kuwait Medical Association Kuwait, November 6-8, 1989, 1989 More
  • Amaal Ahmed Moustafa Elbadawy Moustafa, "Epidemiological study of the common dermatoses among school students in the Zagazig District of Egypt 128th Annual Meeting of APHA conference, November 12-16, 2000, USA, Boston", 128th Annual Meeting of APHA conference, November 12-16, 2000, USA, Boston, 2000 More
  • Amaal Ahmed Moustafa Elbadawy Moustafa, "-Acute Respiratory illness in children. Factors and Reasons that make parents decide to Consult. A.A.El Badawy, M.A.EL Moghazy and S.T.Salem. The Egyptian Journal of Community Medicine. Vol 11 No 1 May 1993", The Egyptian Journal of Community Medicine. Vol 11 No 1 May 1993, 1993 More
Tweet