Psychosocial changes during the first year of medical school

Abstract

The goal of this study was to assess psychosocial changes during the first year, on measures thought related to the long-term adjustment of medical students. Measures of self-esteem, health locus of control, hassles, uplifts, mood, and symptoms of stress were administered at the beginning and end of first year to 128 of 181 students. Self-esteem, powerful other locus of control, and uplifts decreased while hassles increased during the year. Positive mood decreased (joy, contentment, vigour, and affection) while negative mood increased (depression and hostility). Hassles at the beginning of the year were positively associated with health outcome at the beginning and end of the year. End-of-the-year first-year students appear to be worse off psychosocially than when they entered. With greater emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention and the adoption of other reforms in medical education, as suggested in the GPEP Report, medical students may learn to cope more effectively with stress as they pursue their medical education.