Sleep disorders as a risk factor of anxiety and emotional burnout in medical students

Abstract

Introduction. The paper presents the results of our own research on the influence of sleep disorders on anxiety in medical students. We studied the impact of sleep disorders on 1st, 4th and 6th year medical students. Particular attention was paid to studying the impact of constant air raids and security threats typical of wartime in Ukraine. Materials and мethods. We surveyed 1st, 4th, and 6th year medical students (n=300) using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A). Results. The highest rate
of sleep disorders was found among 4th year students (76%), followed by 6th year students (69%), and the lowest rate was found in 1st year students (54%). Accordingly, a higher level of anxiety was more often observed among senior students than among freshmen. This can be explained by the fact that the subjects of the first group have a high academic load due to the beginning of clinical studies and adaptation exhaustion after completion of the earlier years. Students begin to work actively in hospitals, have direct contact with
patients, and observe chronic and terminal cases, which is emotionally draining. Respondents from the second group are worried about professional certification and career uncertainty. The sixth-year students are already actively involved in the treatment process, sometimes replacing junior medical staff, which is associated with a high level of responsibility. Firstyear students, in turn, have not yet fully understood their future responsibilities. In addition, many first-year students have strong family support and mentoring support at the university, and they often do not yet have independent living, which reduces the level of overall stress 82% of respondents experienced a significant deterioration in sleep due to nighttime air
raid alarms. Nightly wake-ups, staying in shelters — all this leads to a decrease in the duration and quality of sleep and creates the effect of «fragmented sleep», which is closely related to anxiety disorders. A sense of insecurity, constant fear for one's life and the lives of loved ones increases the level of general anxiety. Social uncertainty also has its impact. The war dictates the economic situation, future prospects, access to medical education and professional development. There is a statistically significant relationship between poor sleep quality and increased anxiety (p<0.01). Conclusion. The psycho-emotional state of students is an important factor that directly affects their ability to manage stress and learn effectively and subsequently perform professional duties. Providing appropriate conditions for rest and implementing measures to improve sleep quality can be important tools to support students' psychological health.