Emotional exhaustion associated with self-harming thoughts and behaviors and suicidal ideation in medical students at a Peruvian university

Aquino-Canchari C.R.; Florez-Soto D.M.; Lorenzo-Roque A.I.; Baquerizo-Quispe N.S.; Cortez-Orellana S.A. · Scientia Medica (2025) · DOI: 10.15448/1980-6108.2025.1.46519

Resumen

Introduction: emotional fatigue and mental disorders have become a growing problem in recent years within the university community. The aim of this research was to determine whether there is an association between emotional fatigue and the presence of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, as well as suicidal ideation, among medical students at a Peruvian university. Materials and methods: this was an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study. The diagnosis of fatigue was determined using the Emotional Fatigue Scale (ECE), self-injurious behaviors were assessed with the Self-Harm Questionnaire (SHQ), and suicidal ideation was measured using the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSI). The sample consisted of 283 medical students from the Universidad Peruana Los Andes during the 2023-II academic period. The students were surveyed using a probabilistic, stratified sampling method, and all met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Additionally, the study adhered to the ethical principles of biomedical research, including informed consent and approval from the ethics committee. Results: a total of 283 medical students were surveyed. The average scores for emotional fatigue and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors were 29.87 (SD=8.98) and 1.18 (SD=1.04), respectively. Moreover, 26.85% of the students reported engaging in self-injurious behaviors. It was found that emotional fatigue was not associated with the presence of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (p=0.231; Rs=0.100), but it was associated with the presence of suicidal ideation (p=0.025; Rs=0.134). Conclusion: emotional fatigue was not associated with the presence of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, but it was associated with suicidal ideation.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Los Andes; Universidad de Huánuco