A retrospective self-report analysis of health anxiety among medical students across a global health crisis

Department

Internal Medicine

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Geopsychiatry

Abstract

Background: This retrospective within-subjects observational study aims to examine how the global health crisis has influenced perceived health anxiety levels among medical students by comparing their current self-reported anxiety to their retrospective recall of anxiety levels before the crisis.

Method: A total of 239 medical students participated in this study. Health anxiety was measured using the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI). The study was designed as a retrospective within-subject research with a pre-post self-report comparison using retrospective recall.

Results: Mean SHAI scores increased significantly from 12.08 ± 7.07 pre-pandemic to 16.33 ± 9.07 post-pandemic (p < 0.001). The Illness Likelihood sub-section of SHAI showed a greater mean difference (2.91) than the Negative Consequences sub-section (1.82). No significant subgroup differences were noted based on gender, academic phase, or COVID-19 infection status (p > 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated a strong relationship between pre- and post-pandemic SHAI scores (r = 0.570, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The study findings help understand medical students' psychological vulnerabilities due to the pandemic and highlight the dire need to integrate mental health support strategies in medical education.

First Page

100022

DOI

10.1016/j.geopsy.2025.100022

Volume

2

Publication Date

12-1-2025

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