Affiliations: Fachbereich Christliches Sozialwesen der Theologischen
Hochschule Friedensau | Institut für Psychologie, Psychologische
Diagnostik der Universität Potsdam | Institut für Musikermedizin, Medizinische
Fakultät der Albert-Ludwigs- Universität Freiburg
Note: [] Korrespondenzadresse: Dr. med. Edgar Voltmer, Dozent
für Gesundheitswissenschaften und Sozialmanagement, Fachbereich
christliches Sozialwesen der Theologischen Hochschule Friedensau, An der Ihle
19, 39291 Friedensau. E-mail: edgar.voltmer@thh-friedensau.de
Abstract: Objectives: Physicians show a higher risk of psychosocial strain or
impairment than the general population or professions with comparable
responsibility. We evaluated if training-related behavior and experience
patterns of medical students in their first term may already bear risk factors
for this development. Method: Written survey at two German Universities
(Freiburg and Lübeck) with three standard instruments (AVEM, SAM,
F-SozU). The response rate was n=435 (84.5%), 61.8% were female, 38.2%
male students. Results: Analysis showed a distinct psychosocial strain
constellation with at-risk patterns in approximately 40% of students. There
was a significant difference between the students of Freiburg and
Lübeck. Social support and self-awareness were significantly
correlated with health-promoting experience and behavior patterns and must
therefore be viewed as important elements of healthy behavior. Conclusions:
Relevant strain patterns are already evident at the beginning of medical
training. The integration of health promotion and successful coping for medical
students and prevention of profession-related stress for physicians emerges as
an important issue.
Keywords: Medical students, Psychosocial experiences, Social support, Self-awareness, Health promotion
