Risk factors for medical students psychological problems during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of risk factors associated with psychological and psychosocial problems faced by medical students during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. Method A total of 244 medical students aged 16 years old or over residing in the region of the triple border between Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina were interviewed using an online form. Results We could observe the incidence of risk factors for the development of psychological and psychosocial problems in this population. In addition, most of those students reported weight gain and those who had psychological problems in the period prior to the pandemic reported a worsening in their condition. Conclusion We thus were able to collect important information about the suffering of medical students during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic and the results indicate that during that period students reported a worsening of feelings that are generally associated with psychological problems.