The impact of night shift work of medical students on their psychoemotional state and autonomic nervous system

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Abstract

Background: Emotional and physical stress in medical students combining university studies with night shift work as nursing staff is accompanied by stress-related changes in the autonomic nervous system, which require early detection and preventive intervention.

Objective: Evaluation of heart rate variability (HRV) and the psychoemotional state of medical students working night shifts to identify early indicators of autonomic imbalance as targets for preventive interventions.

Materials and methods: A short-range HRV study and survey using questionnaires were conducted in 77 students aged 18 to 28 years.

Results: High rates of psychoemotional exhaustion (42.9%), decreased personal achievement (57.1%), and signs of depersonalization (44.2%) were identified. According to HRV data, increased sympathetic tone (SDNN, LF/HF, HI) directly correlated with stress and physical activity levels (SDANN and LF/HF) and inversely correlated with adaptive potential (SDNN, TI, RMSSD, pNN(50)%), while a decrease in overall HRV (LF/HF and HI) was associated with stress levels.

Conclusion: Medical students working night shifts exhibited a high rate of psychoemotional disorders, as well as sympathetic activation with decreased adaptive potential and overall HRV, caused by stress and physical activity. Outpatient HRV studies at short intervals are recommended for the early detection of autonomic imbalance caused by emotional, psychological, or physical stress in young people.

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About the authors

Vitaly V. Gorban

Kuban State Medical University

Author for correspondence.
Email: gorbanvv@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8665-6796

Dr. Sci. (Med.), Head of the Department of Outpatient Therapy with a Course in General Medical Practice (Family Medicine)

Russian Federation, Krasnodar

V. S. Manto

Kuban State Medical University

Email: lera.menshikh@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5601-6034

Teaching Assistant, Department of Outpatient Therapy with the Course of General Medical Practice (Family Medicine)

Russian Federation, Krasnodar

A. S. Kornienko

Kuban State Medical University

Email: angelina141a@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0002-1064-6916
Russian Federation, Krasnodar

A. E. Andreychenko

Kuban State Medical University

Email: andreichenkoarina22022002@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0009-9231-726X
Russian Federation, Krasnodar

R. Z. Namitokova

Kuban State Medical University

Email: radmilanamitokova@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0003-9586-5882
Russian Federation, Krasnodar

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Supplementary files

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2. Figure 1. Psychoemotional state of medical students

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3. Figure 2. Correlation between the adaptation potential and age and BMI

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4. Figure 3. Correlation between the adaptation potential and heart rate variability parameters

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5. Figure 4. Correlation between the adaptation potential and the stress index (SI)

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