"Mindfulness AND Its Association WITH Stress, Sleep, AND Dietary Changes Among Post-Covid Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study Using THE Maas Scale"

Background: Medical students recovering from COVID-19 may experience persistent psychological and behavioural disturbances. Mindfulness, which reflects present-moment awareness, may be influenced by stress, altered sleep, and lifestyle changes. This study aimed to assess mindfulness using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and its relationship with sleep and dietary patterns in post-COVID medical students. Materials and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 109 post-COVID medical students from Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. Data were collected using the MAAS questionnaire along with a structured survey on COVID symptoms, sleep disturbance, diet alteration, and substance use. Descriptive statistics (mean ± SD) were calculated. The mean MAAS score was analysed across sleep and dietary groups. Results: The mean MAAS score was 4.23 ± 0.46. Among participants, 41.28% reported altered sleep, and 41.28% had dietary changes post-COVID. Fever (79.82%), cough (68.81%), and cold (64.22%) were the most common symptoms during COVID infection. The majority had normal BMI (78.90%), were non-smokers (82.57%), and non-alcoholic (84.40%). Sleep disturbances were likely influenced by post-infection anxiety, academic stress, and autonomic dysregulation affecting circadian rhythms. Dietary disturbances were linked to psychological stress, fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms, reduced activity, sensory deficits, and medication use. Conclusion: Post-COVID medical students demonstrated moderate levels of mindfulness. Disturbances in sleep and diet appeared associated with reduced mindfulness levels. These were attributed to multifactorial causes, emphasizing the need for mindfulness-based and behavioural interventions in post-COVID rehabilitation.