Effect of covid – 19 pandemic on the biological rhythms and mental health in medical students and use of coping strategies: a cross-sectional study

Background: The COVID-19 Pandemic had a high impact on the education system especially medical education. The shift from physical to online classes, social distancing has placed medical students under harsh psychological conditions leading to mental stress, post-traumatic stress disorder which is disregarded. Hence, we are aiming to assess and correlate the biological rhythms, coping strategies, and mental health in medical students.
Materials & Methods: All the medical students who are pursuing MBBS in Medical Colleges in Hyderabad were enrolled in this Cross-Sectional Study. Each student was assessed based on the following tools i.e Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN), Brief-COPE, and PHQ-4. Data is analyzed using SPSS version 22 for Windows. A comparison of means is done by using the t-test and ANOVA. Association studies were done using the chi-square test and Pearson’s correlation test.
Results: 261 participants participated in the study, 186 (71.3%) were females and 72 (27.6%) were males. Sixty-two (23.8%) participants each were from 1st Year and 2nd Year respectively. The majority of students were suffering from depression and anxiety. This was supported and contributed by the higher scores on the avoidant coping skills. The correlational studies showed a significant positive correlation between number of hours spent on screen and disturbed circadian rhythm (p <0.0001), avoidant coping skills (p = .013), anxiety (p = 0.027), depression (p = 0.048). A disturbed circadian rhythm had a positive significant correlation with avoidant coping skills (p < 0.0001), anxiety (p < 0.0001), depression (p < 0.0001). The scores for avoidant coping skills had a positive significant correlation with anxiety (p < 0.0001), depression (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: A disturbed circadian rhythm was observed in students due to the pandemic lockdown. A disturbed circadian rhythm contributes to the higher employment of avoidant coping strategies. The higher use of avoidant coping strategies has been known to increase the risk of anxiety and depression as was also seen in this study.