Fear of COVID-19 and mental health status among the medical students of a selected medical college in Bangladesh

Background: COVID-19 pandemic and mental health of people are related to each other.

Aims: To assess the relationship between fear of COVID-19 (FCOV) and the psychological status of medical students of Bangladesh.

Methods: A total of 967 medical students and intern doctors of Sher-E-Bangla Medical College participated in this cross-sectional study. FCOV was measured using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Mental health status was assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Correlation between these two variables was done followed by general linear model to assess the relationship of other covariates with mental health.

Results: FCOV had a highly significant relationship with mental health (DASS-21 and all its components, p < 0.001 for all). Females suffered more from fear than males except the interns. Clinical students, students with middle income groups, students residing with the families, and students having family members in health services exhibited more FCOV compared to their counterparts. When we looked at the DASS-21 and its components, females suffered more from stress. Having family members in health services was related to higher anxiety and stress with higher DASS-21 scores as well. Students who expressed their lives to be affected by COVID-19 had higher DASS-21 and its components compared to those whose lives were not affected as such. Students residing with their families revealed increased stress. FCOV and life affected by COVID-19 were constantly related to DASS-21 and its components (p < 0.001), adjusted for other variables.

Conclusions: Fear of COVID-19 is associated with poor mental health of medical students.