Evaluation of Mental health and its Association with Academic Progress in Students of Medical School of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences

Ghanbari Kermanshahi, Amirhossin; Ghanbari, Ali; Ghanbari Kermanshahi, Mohammad javad; Ghanbari Kermanshahi, Shadi; Ahookhash, Maryam

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Evaluation of Mental health and its Association with Academic Progress in Students of Medical School of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences

Amirhossin Ghanbari Kermanshahi¹

, Ali Ghanbari²

, Mohammad javad Ghanbari Kermanshahi¹

, Shadi Ghanbari Kermanshahi³

, Maryam Ahookhash ^*⁴

1- Medical student, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
2- Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
3- Nursing student, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
4- PhD student in Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. , maryam.ahookhash@kums.ac.ir

Abstract: (512 Views)

Background: Medical students frequently encounter significant stress due to their substantial workload, clinical obligations, and the competitive nature of their environment, all of which can adversely affect their mental health and academic performance. This study aims to examine the mental health status of medical students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences and its association with their academic performance.

Methods: For this purpose, 222 medical students were randomly selected from a list of students and their high school or last semester GPAs, and assessed using the General Health Questionnaire-28 on four dimensions: physical symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression. Statistical analyses including t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation, were performed using SPSS software.

Results: The results showed a negative correlation between physical complaints (r=-0.12, P=0.04), anxiety (r=-0.18, P=0.01), and depression (r=-0.22, P=0.01) with academic progress. While, social functioning had a positive correlation with academic achievement. (r=0.23 and P=0.01). 37% of students scored above the cutoff, indicating potential mental health issues.

Conclusion: Mental health significantly impacts the academic achievement of medical students; anxiety, depression, and somatic complaints lead to academic decline, whereas favorable social functioning enhances academic performance. Given the 37% prevalence of potential mental health problems, implementing screening and supportive intervention programs in universities is essential.

Keywords: Mental health, Academic progress, Medical students

Acknowledgments: We would like to thank all the medical students, the Research Deputy of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, and everyone who assisted us in conducting this study.

Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Data Availability: All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Publication Consent: Not applicable.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (approval code: IR.KUMS.MED.REC.1402.123). All procedures were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the relevant national and institutional committees and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Financial Disclosure: This research received no financial support.

Authors’ Contributions: Ali Ghanbari and Maryam Ahookhosh contributed to the conceptualization, study design, and manuscript writing. Amir Hossein Ghanbari Kermanshahi, Mohammad Javad Ghanbari Kermanshahi, and Shadi Ghanbari Kermanshahi contributed to the internet search, data extraction, and drafting of the initial manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Full-Text [PDF 1107 kb] (5 Downloads)

Type of Study: Original | Subject: Special

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Research code: 4020481

Ethics code: IR.KUMS.MED.REC.1402.123

Open Access Statement: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided that the original work is properly cited.

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