Anxiety and academic stress in medical students during university studies

The article is devoted to the study of the peculiarities of anxiety and academic stress in the student environment of a medical university. The present study involved students of the 1st, 3rd and 6th courses of study at Altai State Medical University specializing in «Medical Science» (profile — Clinical Medicine). The total sample of respondents was 89 people. According to the results of the study, it was found that medical students demonstrate an increased level of anxiety and academic stress at all stages of their studies at the university. The study found that women demonstrate a higher level of personal anxiety and are more likely to use the «seeking social support» and «escape-avoidance» models. There was no correlation between personality orientation (the internal locus of control) and greater resistance to stress (demonstrating a lower level of anxiety, more adaptive behavior) in this sample. Studying at a medical university is specific and leaves its mark on the psycho-emotional state of students. As recommendations based on the results of the study, I would like to note the importance of professional aptitude testing for applicants to medical universities in order to identify the psychophysiological properties of future doctors and their medical skills. In conditions of traditionally difficult studies at medical universities, it is recommended to provide psychological and pedagogical support for the educational process, paying special attention to providing psychological counseling to students.