ERIC Number: EJ1270009
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Dec
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0017-8969
EISSN: N/A
Positive Mental Health and Burnout in First to Fourth Year Medical Students
Morgan, Tamara L.; McFadden, Taylor; Fortier, Michelle S.; Tomasone, Jennifer R.; Sweet, Shane N.
Health Education Journal, v79 n8 p948-962 Dec 2020
Background: Medical students are at risk of poor mental health and burnout compared to general population age- and education-matched peers, which has future implications for patient care. Research has suggested that demographic factors can predict mental illness and burnout among medical students. However, less is known about predictors of mental health and how they compare to predictors of burnout, and few studies have examined multiple demographics simultaneously. Objectives: This study examined and compared demographic predictors (gender, ethnicity, age, level of education, year of study and proposed specialty) of mental health and burnout in first to fourth year Canadian medical students. Method: Medical students (n = 129) completed online surveys comprised of validated questionnaires. Results: Multiple regression indicated that third year [Beta] = -0.243, p = 0.013) negatively predicted mental health (R[superscript 2] = 15.0%). Female gender ([Beta] = 0.242, p = 0.005), 'other' ethnicities ([Beta] = 0.189, p = 0.028), third year ([Beta] = 0.391, p < 0.001) and fourth year ([Beta] = 0.212, p = 0.023) positively predicted burnout (R[superscript 2] = 32.7%). Female gender and fourth year predicted mental health and burnout differently. 'Other' ethnicity, second year and third year predicted mental health and burnout similarly. Conclusion: Findings fill gaps in the literature and may inform medical stakeholders in developing targeted programmes for improving medical students' mental health and burnout. Medical students with greater well-being can progress into physicians who will be more likely to promote well-being in their patients.
Descriptors: Mental Health, Burnout, Medical Students, Predictor Variables, Gender Differences, Individual Differences, Racial Differences, Foreign Countries, Measures (Individuals)
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2814
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Maslach Burnout Inventory
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A