Coping self-efficacy and its contributing factors among medical students at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic declaration in 2019 required schools and universities to close, challenging students and their education. The mandatory stay-at-home quarantine rules and change to online education accentuate how mental health plays a crucial role in maintaining performance during challenging times. Coping self-efficacy (CSE) is associated with higher mental health levels and resilience to distress. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate students’ CSE and related factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, CSE scores and demographic characteristics of the participants were evaluated through online questionnaires. A total of 364 medical students from Tabriz University Medical Sciences completed the questionnaires and were included in the study. CSE scores of students and their demographic characteristics were obtained, and the analysis was performed using a t-test and one-way ANOVA. Results: Of those included, 37.1% were males and the mean CSE score of the students was 83.75±24.8. Students’ type of residence was found to be significantly related to their CSE scores (P=0.003). Students living with their spouses had the highest CSE scores, while those living with their parents had the lowest CSE scores. The association of CSE scores with gender, marital status, academic year of study, and source of income was not significant. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, students living with their parents had the lowest CSE scores. CSE plays a crucial role in managing distressful events, and our findings may be useful in identifying groups prone to stressful factors and help enhance future educational policies and planning.