The evaluation of psycho-emotional state in junior students of medical university

Abstract

Currently, psychosocial factors, stress and mental exhaustion are considered by WHO experts and the International Labour Organization as an important new factor affecting the health, working capacity, training and career. Young generation, especially students, who are an industrial and intellectual potential of the country can be attributed to the risk group because of the extremely high burden of adaptation. The intensity and tension of modern life at a psychological level preceding the occurrence of negative emotional experiences and stress reactions that, accumulating, cause the formation of depressions. The aim of the study was to examine the level of psycho-emotional stress in the junior students of medical university. The observations of the medical students of the second year of study were performed. To determine the psycho-emotional stress we have used adaptive varint of H.Ayzenko method that include an anxiety, frustration, aggressiveness and rigidity, through questionnaires. According to a survey results of the state of psycho-emotional state low levels of stress resistance were found in students in learning activities, indicating that students are exposed to the negative impact of the environment. It should also be noted that the level of emotional condition of students depends on the personal experience of stressful situations that arise in students’ lives.

Full text

Galician medical journal 2017
Vol. 24, Issue 2, E2017213
DOI: 10.21802/gmj.2017.2.13
Research Article
The evaluation of psycho-emotional state in junior
students of medical university
Tetiana Pavliuk*, Mukola Rozhko, Oksana Panchak
Abstract
Currently, psychosocial factors, stress and mental exhaustion are considered by WHO experts and the International Labour
Organization as an important new factor affecting the health, working capacity, training and career. Young generation,
especially students, who are an industrial and intellectual potential of the country can be attributed to the risk group because
of the extremely high burden of adaptation. The intensity and tension of modern life at a psychological level preceding the
occurrence of negative emotional experiences and stress reactions that, accumulating, cause the formation of depressions.
The aim of the study was to examine the level of psycho-emotional stress in the junior students of medical university. The
observations of the medical students of the second year of study were performed. To determine the psycho-emotional stress
we have used adaptive varint of H.Ayzenko method that include an anxiety, frustration, aggressiveness and rigidity, through
questionnaires. According to a survey results of the state of psycho-emotional state low levels of stress resistance were found
in students in learning activities, indicating that students are exposed to the negative impact of the environment. It should
also be noted that the level of emotional condition of students depends on the personal experience of stressful situations that
arise in students’ lives.
Keywords
psycho-emotional stress; stress; medical students
Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
Corresponding author: pavliuktv@gmail.com
Problem statement and analysis of the
recent research
Recently, psychosocial factors, stress and mental exhaustion
are considered by experts of WHO and the International
Labour Organization (ILO) as a new important factor that
affects on health and working capacity, training and working
career [3].
Activity, vitality, observation, adaptability to the condi-
tions of training activities in higher education, low anxiety,
emotional stability, ability to perceive and analyze information
are the signs of students’ mental health [12].
Young generation of our country, especially students, that
is an industrial and intellectual potential of our country, might
be attributed to the group of risk because of the extremely
high adaptational burden [3].
The intensity and tension of modern life at a psycholog-
ical level precedes the occurrence of negative emotional ex-
periences and stress reactions which, accumulating, cause
the formation of severe and prolonged depressions. Unfor-
tunately, stress has become a part of everyday life for many
people. Sometimes it is not even noticed, while the long-term
impact of negative emotions can cause a lot of stress etiology
diseases, the so-called “stress diseases”. Young people, who
begin student’s life, are simultaneously affected by several
stress factors: the change in the reference and micro-social
environment in educational institution, often change of living
conditions, change of the traditional way of life, including the
order of classes and control events at the university (compared
to school study) and others. That is why students often need
help in adapting to new conditions of life.
The need to research students’ mental health is determined
by the presence of such factors that affect the state of their
mental health including: exams, periods of social adaptation,
the necessity of personal self-determination in the future pro-
fessional environment and so on. Emotional states, which are
experienced during this period, and their consequences consti-
tute a serious threat to students’ psychological health. In high
education institution terms mental health is very important
factor that determines students’ educational activities success,
promotes their personal development and conflict-free com-
munication. [12]
Before making analysis of stress problem in junior stu-
dents, the definition of “stress” should be clarified. According
to the psychological dictionary stress is a non-specific reaction
of the organism on unexpected and tense situation Almost ev-
ery person (and also students) undergo strong stress situations
in his life, which leave deep traumatic and sometimes incur-
able wounds in the soul. Especially young generation experi-
ence it in an acute way. Troubles in educational establishment,
disputes, conflicts with age mates, problems in personal life,

The evaluation of psycho-emotional state in junior students of medical university — 2/4
family conflicts, lack of love, parental and teacher cruelty or
indifference or just inconsistency in punishment and reward
system, financial difficulties – this is not an exhaustive list
of conditions that injure the young people psychics. If they
are emotionally vulnerable, unprotected students, they begin
to fall behind in school, constantly stay in fear and anxiety
condition, hopelessness and apathy state, their total activity is
reduced, that leads to poor health.
This is physiological response that mobilizes body re-
serves and prepares it for physical activity such as resistance,
struggle, escape. Stress classification indicates that stress is
the result of stressors, which differ in content, power, action
time. In addition, the same stressors might be caused by dif-
ferent reactions in different people, especially young people
[1].
From a psychological point of view stress condition in-
clude specific form of human reflect on extreme situations and
behaviors as a response to this display. Anxiety is considered
as a form of stress. We classified stress: eustress (positive
stress, combined with the desired effect and mobilizes the
body) and distress (negative stress with undesirable harmful
effect). Cognitive processes and processes of self-awareness,
understanding of reality, memory are activated in eustress.
Distress that arises in working or training (for students) situa-
tion has a tendency to spread. Negative neuro-psychological
and physiological effects that accumulate are difficult to com-
pensate in leisure hours, rapid compensation during training
or employment are required. At the present time the features
of society, including information overload, is the main cause
of chronic stress. Some scientists note that stress has acquired
epidemic nature. [2]
A lot of people have chronic emotional stress as a result of
missing rational rest. High level of emotional stress associated
with overload information, accelerated rate of life, adverse
conditions of study or work, may contribute to increase the
inflammatory and degenerative diseases of periodontal tissues.
In recent years clinical studies confirm the high sensitivity of
the periodontal tissues to stress. As research showed various
factors have an influence on the occurrence of periodontal
disease tissue showed that stress is a determining factor in the
development of periodontal pathology. [8]
It is shown that long-term impact of immobilized stress
on human being is accompanied by redistribution of blood,
changes in microcirculation and destructive lesions of micro-
vessels [11], increased free radical processes, a decrease in
oxygen consumption [4], a violation of energy metabolism
[6] and the development of degeneration of bone [5, 9, 10].
However, the question of stress-induced transport disorders
and utilization of oxygen in soft and hard periodontal tissues
is hardly clarified [7].
By definition of B.Ananyev the student’s age, is a sensitive
period for the development of major human potential. Higher
education causes a huge impact on the human psychics, the
development of the individual, forms the thinking way that
characterizes professional orientation of the individual. The-
oretical and practical training condition is a kind of training
ground for adequate responses to various social and physical
environment incentives. A fairly high level of general intel-
lectual development, erudition, breadth of interest level of a
select number of logical operations are needed for successful
learning in high school. At some reduction of this level the
compensation is possible because of motivation efficiency
increasing, perseverance, diligence and care in educational
activities. The success of the people is affected by anxiety.
As established, anxiety promotes activities that are simple for
a person and prevent – in the complex ones, while the initial
level of human anxiety is essential [1].
Objective
To examine the level of psycho-emotional stress
in the junior students of medical university.
1. Materials and methods
For self-study emotional state of junior medical students, we
have attracted 137 students (37 boys, 100 girls) who are the
2nd year students of medical university. The sample had no
significant differences by gender and age composition, resi-
dence. We have used H.Ayzenko questionnaire that include
an anxiety, frustration, aggressiveness and rigidity. Question-
naire contains 40 questions, 10 for each group of mental states.
If this condition occurs frequently, it’s rated 2 points; if it hap-
pens, but rarely – 1 point, if not fit – 0 point. Interpretation
of the results is as follows: calculated scores for questions
from 1 to 10, corresponding indicator of anxiety, from 11 to
20 – frustration, from 21 to 30 – aggressiveness and from 31
to 40 – rigidity. The number of points for each mental state is
assessed in the Table 1.
The results of research were statistically analyzed with
the help of statistical package

Stat Soft 6.0

, classical meth-
ods of variation statistic. The differences between studied
parameters were evaluated by Student’s test.
2. Results and discussion
As a result of psychological test that was conducted in second
year students of medical university, we have obtained the
relevant data (Table 2) for each parameter of mental state
(anxiety, frustration, aggression, rigidity)
In our research we have found low level of anxiety in 46%
of students that an average is 5.32
±
0.18. The average rate
of anxiety we have observed in 49.9% of surveyed students
that an average is 9.76
±
0.23 points. If we estimated the
number of students who received the result of high anxiety, it
is quite low – it is 4.4% and an average is 15.67
±
0.42 points.
Analyzing indicator of anxiety, it should be noted that most of
students observed average level of anxiety that is acceptable
and is characterized by general circumstances and situations
addiction.
Analyzing the index of frustration we have received the
following data: 66.4% of students had low level of frustration,
and an average it is 5.03
±
0.18 points; in 30.7% – found
an average level of frustration, and an average it is 10.07
±

The evaluation of psycho-emotional state in junior students of medical university — 3/4
Table 1. The interpretation of psycho-emotional conditions
Points Anxiety Frustration Aggressiveness Rigidity
0 - 7 Restless High self-esteem,
resistant to failures,
not afraid of
difficulties
Stable, restrained Rigidity is absent,
easily goes over
8 - 14 Anxiety is average
and acceptable
Intermediate level,
frustration occurs
Average Average
15 - 20 Very disturbing Low self-esteem, you
avoid difficulties, fear
of failure
Aggressive,
unrestraint. There are
difficulties in working
with people
High rigidity, it is
contraindicated to
change a job and
changes in family
Table 2. Indicators of mental states in the 2nd year students
Level of indicator Anxiety Frustration Aggressiveness Rigidity
% Average
score
% Average
score
% Average
score
% Average
score
Low 46 5.32 66.4 5.03 29.2 4.93 32.1 5.82
(0-7) ±0.18 ±0.18 ±0.27 ±0.21
Average 49.6 9.76 30.7 10.07 60.6 10.36 60.6 10.42
(8-14) ±0.23 ±0.28 ±0.19 ±0.22
High 4.4 15.67 2.9 15.5 10.2 16 7.3 15.5
(15-20) ±0.42 ±0.5 ±0.29 ±0.17
0.28 points; 2.9% – the indicator of frustration is high and
an average it is 15.5
±
0.5 points. Thus, from the obtained
results, we can see that most of students have low frustration
level that indicates that students have high self-esteem, and
are resistant to failures.
As we can see from a table 2 – 29.2% of students are
not aggressive, and an average it is 4.93
±
0.27 points. The
average level of aggressiveness is observed in 60.6% of stu-
dents (10.36
±
0.19 points). The high rate of aggression is
observed in 10.2% of students and an average it is 16.0
±
0.29
points. As it can be seen from Table 2, the 2nd year students
have average level of aggressiveness, characterized by mood
changing and restraining of their aggression.
Analyzing rigidity indicators we might see that 32.1% of
students have low rigidity and an average it is 5.82
±
0.21
points. If we estimate the average level of rigidity, it is present
in 60.6% of students an average it is 10.42
±
0.22 points. The
high level of rigidity is noted in 7.3% of students and an aver-
age it is 15.5
±
0.17 points. Consequently, most students have
an average level of rigidity that shows the influence of this
persons’ mood and their desires onto the human behavioral
activity.
Perspectives for further research
We plan to study further the level of psycho-emotional stress
in students who graduate from university as well as the rela-
tionship with diseases of the oral cavity.
Conclusions
According to the results of psycho-emotional state examina-
tion (method of H.Ayzenko), we have found fairly low levels
of students stress-resistance in vocational training activities.
The results of anxiety, aggressiveness and rigidity are at the
average level, that indicates that students are not able to resist
the negative influence of the environment, inadequate respond
on the conflict and stress situations.
Thus, the level of psycho-emotional state depends on per-
sonal experience of stressful situations that arise in students’
life and during studying.
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Received: 17 May 2017
Revised: 19 June 2017
Accepted: 19 June 2017