RELATIONSHIP OF LEARNED HELPLESSNESS AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN MEDICAL STUDENTS

Main Article Content

Mirba Naz
Maryum Khanum
Dania Mufassir
Tasmia Rizvi
Rabia Muzaffar
Sidra Shoaib

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship of learned helplessness with psychological distress and relationship of social integration with psychological distress in medical students.


METHODS: This quantitative correlational survey research was conducted from September 2019 till January 2020, on 315 medical students, aging between 18-24 years, recruited from private and public medical colleges from Karachi, Pakistan. Data was collected through purposive sampling technique from students of all five medical years. To measure the variables, Learned Helplessness Scale, Social Inclusion Scale and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale were used. The institutes were visited as a part of survey-based methodology for this research.


RESULTS: Out of 315 medical students, 223 (70.8%) were females and 92 (29.2%) were males. Mean age of students was 21.33±2.19 years and mean time spent by participants in university was 7.49±2.06 hours. Majority (n=272/315; 86.3%) were single. About 41.6% (n=131/315) completed three years of medical education. Majority (n=250/ 315; 79.4%) lived with their parents and 303 (96%) student’s parents could afford their medical education. Twenty-seven (8.6%) students consulted psychiatrist/psychologist at least once and 33 (10.5%) students had family history of psychological illness. Thirty-six (11.4%) students had other health-related problems. Outcomes depicts a weak positive correlation between learned helplessness and psychological distress (r= 0.218, p<0.01) and a weak negative correlation between social integration and psychological distress (r = -0.272, p<0.01).


CONCLUSION: Medical students who had more robust social networks had a reduced chance of psychological distress than their counterparts who had weaker ties.

Article Details

How to Cite
Naz, Mirba, et al. “RELATIONSHIP OF LEARNED HELPLESSNESS AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN MEDICAL STUDENTS ”. KHYBER MEDICAL UNIVERSITY JOURNAL, vol. 14, no. 4, Dec. 2022, pp. 263-8, doi:10.35845/kmuj.2022.20848.
Section
Original Articles

References

Khan MS, Mahmood S, Badshah A, Ali SU, Jamal Y. Prevalence of depression, anxiety and their associated factors among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan. J Pak Med Assoc 2006;56(12):583-6.

Yusoff MSB, Rahim AFA, Baba AA, Ismail SB, Mat Pa MN, Esa AR. The impact of medical education on psychological health of students: a cohort study. Psychol Health Med 2013;18(4):420-30. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2012.740162

Shaikh BT, Kahloon A, Kazmi M, Khalid H, Nawaz K, Khan N, Khan S. Students, stress and coping strategies: a case of Pakistani medical school. Educ Health (Abingdon) 2004;17(3):346-53. https://doi.org/10.1080/13576280400002585

Cherry F. Stubborn particulars of social psychology: essays on the research process. Routledge; 2019 May 24. ISBN 9781138876842.

Catapano J. Learned helplessness, and how we can overcome it. Teach HUB Hot Tips & Topics. [Accessed on: July 27, 2020]. Available from URL: http://www.teachhub.com/learned-helplessness-and-how-we-can-overcome-it

Miller WR, Seligman ME, Kurlander HM. Learned helplessness, depression, and anxiety. J Nerv Ment Dis 1975;161(5):347-57.

Miller WR, Seligman ME. Depression and learned helplessness in man. J Abnorm Psychol 1975;84(3):228-38. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0076720

Sherman LE, Payton AA, Hernandez LM, Greenfield PM, Dapretto M. The power of the like in adolescence: Effects of peer influence on neural and behavioral responses to social media. Psychol Sci 2016;27(7):1027-35. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797616645673

Misra R, Crist M, Burant CJ. Relationships among life stress, social support, academic stressors, and reactions to stressors of international students in the United States. Int J Stress Manag 2003;10(2):137-57. https://doi.org/10.1037/1072-5245.10.2.137

Kawachi I, Berkman LF. Social ties and mental health. J Urban Health 2001;78:458-67. https://doi.org/10.1093/jurban/78.3.458

Seeman TE. Social ties and health: The benefits of social integration. Ann Epidemiol 1996;6(5):442-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1047-2797(96)00095-6

Brook CA, Willoughby T. Shyness and Social Anxiety Assessed Through Self-Report: What Are We Measuring? J Personal Assess 2019;101(1):54-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2017.1388808

Osama M, Islam MY, Hussain SA, Masroor SM, Burney MU, Masood MA, et al. Suicidal ideation among medical students of Pakistan: a cross-sectional study. J Forensic Legal Med 2014;27:65-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2014.08.006

Rau T, Plener P, Kliemann A, Fegert JM, Allroggen M. Suicidality among medical students–A practical guide for staff members in medical schools. GMS Z Med Ausbild 2013;30(4):Doc48.

Sorrenti L, Filippello P, Costa S, Buzzai C. A psychometric examination of the Learned Helplessness Questionnaire in a sample of Italian school students. Psychol Schools 2015;52(9):923-41. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21867

Henry JD, Crawford JR. The short‐form version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS‐21): Construct validity and normative data in a large non‐clinical sample. Br J Clin Psychol 2005;44(2):227-39. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466505X29657

Secker J, Hacking S, Kent L, Shenton J, Spandler H. Development of a measure of social inclusion for arts and mental health project participants. J Ment Health 2009;18(1):65-72. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638230701677803

Rosal MC, Ockene IS, Ockene JK, Barrett SV, Ma Y, Hebert JR. A longitudinal study of students' depression at one medical school. Acad Med 1997;72(6):542-6. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001888-199706000-00022

Styles WM. Stress in undergraduate medical education:'the mask of relaxed brilliance'. Br J Gen Prac 1993;43(367):46-7.

Dyrbye LN, Harper W, Durning SJ, Moutier C, Thomas MR, Massie Jr FS, et al. Patterns of distress in US medical students. Med Teach 2011;33(10):834-9. https://doi.org/10.3109/0142159X.2010.531158

Lyn YA, Martin ES, John DT. Learned helplessness in humans: Critique and reformulation. J Abnorm Psycho 1978;87(1):49-74. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.87.1.49

Hefner J, Eisenberg D. Social support and mental health among college students. Am J Orthopsychiatry 2009;79(4):491-9. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016918

Similar Articles

1 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.