Features of Life and Well-Being in Medical Students During Distance Learning in the Course of the COVID-19 Epidemic

Abstract

The study examines certain aspects of the physiological and mental states of students caused by the conditions of social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to study remotely. 189 respondents (84.6% female, 15.4% male) aged 17 to 27 years were interviewed. The data was collected remotely (using a Google form) between November and December 2020. The following methods were used: the author’s questionnaire aimed at evaluating the regime moments, eating habits and physical activity of students, as well as their academic load; the questionnaire “Well-Being, Activity, Mood”; the Beck Depression Inventory; the Spielberger-Hanin anxiety scale. The results showed that in the conditions of distance learning, the lifestyle of a significant proportion of students is characterized by pronounced deviations from the recommended values. Sleep deprivation, an unbalanced diet, a decrease in physical activity — all this, along with a pronounced academic load of medical students, leads to a deterioration in their functional state. A close relationship between the physical and emotional well-being of students was revealed. At the same time, the main predictors of physical well-being are regular physical activity and commitment to a healthy life- style, while emotional well-being is largely determined by the personal characteristics of students and the ability to adapt to a new learning regime.