The association between distance learning and occurrence of depression and anxiety: a cross-sectional study among male and female medical students at umm al-qura university | [International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology • 2022]

Author(s):

1. Ahmad Hasan Mufti: Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University,Makkah,Saudi Arabia

2. Deema Sami Ashoor: Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University,Makkah,Saudi Arabia

3. Khulud Ayman Boubsit: Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University,Makkah,Saudi Arabia

4. Elaf Rudda Altalhi: Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University,Makkah,Saudi Arabia

5. Baydaa Safar Aljuaid: Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University,Makkah,Saudi Arabia

6. Jannat Abdullah Abdulmuttalib: Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University,Makkah,Saudi Arabia

7. Raneem Raja Althebeti: Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University,Makkah,Saudi Arabia

Abstract:

The study objective was to explore the association between distance learning and depression and anxiety among medical students at umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the relationship between distance learning and depression and anxiety. A questionnaire was used at Umm Al-Qura University targeting 302 volunteers from medical students to collect the data. Students who were anxious or depressed for other causes were not included. The data was analyzed by Chi-square test. Number of students who had anxiety and/or depression due to distance learning was low (p>0.05) compared to other groups without anxiety and/or depression. 175 (56.2%) students stated that they had this feeling before applying distance learning. It was found highly significant with gender comparison (p-value: 0.008). Out of 65 respondents aged 19-20, 51 (78.5 %) indicated distance learning as a strong predictor of reduced GPA in this age group (p-value: 0.01). Distance learning was a significant predictor of lower GPAs among students in this academic year. The students of age group (21-22) were the most affected group having feeling that they got affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Out of 243, (77.9%) of participants were females, 151 (48.4%) of them said COVID-19 impacted their ability to learn/study, whereas a total of 59 (18.9%) participants were from the second academic year. 48(15.4%) of them said that COVID19 impacted their ability to learn/study. It is noticed that the age group (19-20) in the second year was the most affected according to age and academic year. While distant education has little to no effect on students' mental health, there were enough number of students who attributed their depression and anxiety to distance education. However, the important factors that might have influenced the results are a lack of medical study experience, a lack of understanding of distance learning, and a lack of an appropriate learning environment.

Page(s): 275-281

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology, Volume: 19, Issue: 2, Year: 2022

Keywords:

COVID19 , Medical students , Depression , Anxiety , Distance learning , lockdown , Saudi Arabia

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