Relationship between academic performance, psychological well-being, and coping strategies in medical students.

INTRODUCTION

Academic performance is a product of the complex environment that surrounds the student, shaped by aspects such as intensity of study, motivation and context of relationships, which affect the academic achievement of individuals. There may be other psychological or emotional factors, such as anxiety, level of psychological well-being, and behavior strategies for effective adaptation to concrete environment demands and their associated emotional stress.

OBJECTIVES

This research study aims at determining the level of psychological well-being and coping strategies in students of the Basic Common Cycle of studies leading to an MD degree in the School of Medicine of the National University of Córdoba, Argentina.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

This is an observational study based on a "Questionnaire on determiners of academic performance", that was answered by 374 students. Data was processed using statistical bivariate analysis (p< 0.05) and multiple correspondence factorial analysis.

RESULTS

Students with "VG/G (Very Good/Good) performance" show high levels of satisfaction and well-being use direct coping strategies which lead them to "cope with problematic situations" by means of "problem solving". Students with "R/I (Regular/Insufficient) academic performance" declare "dissatisfaction with most aspects of their personalities", feel unable to give a satisfactory response to environment demands, and assume "avoidance behaviors" as coping strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Student academic performance is associated with psychological well-being, feeling of satisfaction with achievements, and coping with stressful situations.