[Medical students' perceived stress and mental well-being in light of body mass index and eating behavior].

Abstract

Introduction: Maintenance of medical students’ mental health is a big challenge worldwide: due to the increased level of their perceived stress, there is a high frequency of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and burnout. Objective: The aim of our study has been to investigate levels of stress, ways of coping, eating behavior and features of mental health in a sample of medical students and to identify their groups in terms of their vulnerability by means of cluster analysis. Method: Participants of the online survey were medical students from the University of Szeged (n = 153, aged between 18 and 30 years, 77.1% females). Besides the Perceived Stress Scale and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire, we applied the following scales: Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Body Appreciation Scale and the Self Regulation of Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Results: According to Student’s t-test, there was no significant difference between those with normal/subnormal BMI and the overweight/obese group in the level of perceived stress. However, the second group shows higher scores on the subscales of emotional and uncontrolled eating which may propose the risk of eating disorders. The three clusters possess different levels of vulnerability: those with “high levels of stress and BMI, and low level of competence in psychological immunity” were characterized by risky ways of coping and a greater risk of disordered eating, while the risk was comparatively less when the high level of stress goes together with normal BMI and healthy body appreciation. Those with “lower level of stress and normal BMI, and high level of competence in psychological immunity” are in the most favorable position. Conclusion: Results of this study can be applied in the development of preventive and health education programs so as to improve the medical students’ quality of life and precede deterioration of their mental health. Orv Hetil. 2024; 165(42): 1659–1668.