A Cross-Sectional Survey Assessing Mental Health, Fatigue and Sleep Among Male Medical Students in Western Saudi Arabia During and After Examination Periods | [Journal of Pioneering Medical Sciences • 2025]

Author(s):

1. Wahaj A. Khan: Department of environmental and occupational health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia

2. Mohammad N. Shah: Department of Epidemiology and medical statistics, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia

3. Mohammed Ali Al-Ghamdi: Department of Epidemiology and medical statistics, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia

4. Abdul Karim Mohammed Al-Zahrani: Department of Epidemiology and medical statistics, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia

5. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Khathami: Department of environmental and occupational health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia

6. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Hutairishi: Health administration and hospitals department, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia

7. Hatim Matooq Badri: Department of environmental and occupational health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia

8. Hatim A. Natto: Department of Epidemiology and medical statistics, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia

9. Mohamed Osman Elamin: Department of environmental and occupational health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia

10. Albaraa A. Milibari: Department of environmental and occupational health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia

11. Rakan Ekram: Health administration and hospitals department, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia

Abstract:

Academic examination periods are a significant source of stress, particularly for medical students, yet few studies explore how these periods affect mental health and sleep in specific cultural contexts like Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess whether exam periods exacerbate depression, anxiety, stress, sleepiness, insomnia and fatigue among male undergraduate medical students at a university in Western Saudi Arabia, compared to post-exam periods. Using a convenience sample (n = 109), we administered electronic surveys during and after exams in April-May 2024, employing validated scales: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and Insomnia Severity Index. Results revealed significantly higher depression (M = 7.67 vs. M = 4.89; p<0.001) and anxiety (M = 7.10 vs. M = 4.30; p<0.001) during exams, with moderate effect sizes (Cohen's d = 0.346 and 0.422), alongside elevated stress, sleepiness, fatigue and insomnia and reduced sleep time (6.76 vs. 7.28 hours). These findings underscore how academic stress impairs mental well-being and sleep, potentially affecting academic performance. Post-exam recovery was partial, with lingering performance concerns prolonging psychological strain. Given the all-male sample and potential cultural influences, generalizability is limited. Universities should implement targeted interventions-such as stress management workshops, sleep education and flexible exam scheduling-to mitigate these effects. Future longitudinal studies are needed to explore long-term impacts and evaluate intervention efficacy, enhancing support for student mental health in high-stress academic settings.

Page(s): 59-64

DOI: 10.47310/jpms2025140210

Published: Journal: Journal of Pioneering Medical Sciences, Volume: 14, Issue: 2, Year: 2025

Keywords:

Medical students , Mental health , Academic Stress , Fatigue , Sleep Disturbances , examination periods

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