More Than Half of Indian Medical Students Experience Stress, IJCM Study Finds
A recent institution-based study reveals alarmingly high levels of psychological strain affect more than half of medical undergraduates, with social isolation risks tripling as they progress toward clinical training, as a recent study published in the Indian Journal of Community Medicine in February 2025 has shown.
The high-pressure environment of medical education often compromises student health, and while international research highlights a 28% higher depression rate in this population compared to the general public, there is a lack of localized data in Gujarat; therefore, Dr. Rohitkumar Ram and colleagues from the Department of Community Medicine at Shri MP Shah Medical College conducted a mixed-method study to analyze the prevalence of stress and social isolation throughout the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program.
Therefore, the institutional-based, mixed-method cross-sectional inquiry involved 458 students at a medical college in Gujarat from January to March 2023. Using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) for mental health assessment and the Lubben Social Network Scale—Revised (LSNS-R) for social support, the investigation excluded those with pre-existing anxiety or sensory disorders to accurately measure the primary endpoints of psychological stress and secondary risks of social isolation.
Key Findings of the Study Include:
• Seniority-Driven Distress: The investigation noted that second-year students experienced stress at a rate of 38.4%, representing a 2.2-fold increase in odds compared to the 35% observed in first-year trainees.
• Rising Social Isolation: Investigation found that third-year students were 3.1 times more likely to face extreme social networking limitations, with isolation prevalence reaching 41% versus 17.5% in the first year.
• Significant Gender Vulnerability: The investigation identified that female students reported a 66% prevalence of stress, which was significantly higher than the 44% reported by their male counterparts.
• Demographic Risk Profiles: Investigation data showed that rural students and those with one or no siblings faced 1.57 and 2.74 times higher odds of psychological distress, respectively.
• Primary Academic Stressors: The investigation highlighted that 70% of participants cited the frequency of examinations and 84% noted library dissatisfaction as significant contributors to their academic burden.
The results suggest that with overall stress prevalence reaching 54% and mean scores doubling by the third year, medical institutions must prioritize student well-being through comprehensive policy changes. This multifaceted approach is essential to address the alarmingly high levels of isolation found across all levels of training.
Thus, the study concludes clinicians and educators may find that implementing peer mentoring and enhancing counseling services could effectively foster a more nurturing academic atmosphere and build resilience among students.
While the single-institution study utilized self-reported scales, future multicentric and longitudinal research is encouraged to deepen our understanding of the relationship between training-related distress and long-term clinical outcomes.
Reference
Murugan Y, Dave A, Patel S, Ram R. Fostering wellness in medical education: A mixed method study of stress, isolation, and coping among undergraduate students in India. Indian J Community Med 2025;50:453-7.
