Article
Exam distress, somatization and quality of life at the entry exam of the Medical University of Graz
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Authors
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Christian Vajda
- Medical University of Graz, Universitätsklinik für Medizinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, Graz, Austria
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Christian Fazekas
- Medical University of Graz, Universitätsklinik für Medizinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, Graz, Austria
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Josef Haas
- Medical University of Graz, Universitätsklinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Graz, Austria
| Published: | September 5, 2012 |
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Outline
Poster
Introduction: Since 2005 there is an annual entry exam at the Medical University of Graz for future students in medicine and dentistry. In this work we aimed to explore an association between participation and success in the entry exam and psychosocial and psychosomatic variables including quality of life and somatization.
Material and methods: In this diploma thesis data were collected in relation to the entry exam 2010 and descriptively analysed. At three points of time (three weeks before, two days before, and three weeks after the exam) the following psychometric measures were applied: SOMS-7, to explore the level of somatization, HADS-D, to probe for symptoms of anxiety and depression and the WHOQOL-BREF as a measure of quality of life. Further statistical analyses of these data are planned.
Results: Study participants consisted of 44 persons (25 females, 19 males). After the exam lower values in somatization, anxiety and depression and higher values in quality of life were reported as compared to before the exam. The unsuccessful subgroup showed higher values in somatization (see Figure1 [Fig. 1]), and anxiety and depression compared to the successful subgroup at all three points of time. In addition, female participants reported higher values in somatization than their male colleagues (see Figure 2 [Fig. 2]).
Conclusion: Results suggest an association between symptoms of somatisation and performance in the entry exam. This finding may be particularly relevant for females. Further data analyses and future studies will be needed to better understand this interrelation.
