Peeradon Dutsadeevettakul¹
Darin Tangsittitum², Anongnard Kasorn³ and Manasvin Onwan⁴
1 Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University
2 Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University
3 Department of Basic Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand
4 Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Sinakharinwirot University, Nakhon- Nayok, Thailand 

Background:
While stress is a significant factor that can impact student satisfaction and academic outcomes in medical education, it is important to note that academic outcomes can also contribute to stress levels. The demanding nature of medical education, with its workload, and intense exams, can create a high-pressure environment that can lead to stress. 

Summary of Work:
A mixed questionnaire consisted of qualitative and quantitative were conducted among Thai medical student society in January 2023 (N=110). 

Results:
Students with higher GPA were satisfied with their grades with a satisfaction score of 8 ± 1.477. On the other hand, the least satisfaction score (3.36 ± 1.804) was observed in students with GPA lower than 3.00.
 However, the same positive association does not apply to stress levels. Interestingly, students with the middle range of GPAs (3.40-3.59) reported the least amount of stress (4.88 ± 2.804, p=0.024), with stress levels increasing in both the upper and lower GPAs. The similar pattern was also observed between education-related stress and GPA. 

Beyond GPA, other factors including sex and number of siblings also had impacts on stress levels (p=0.021, p=0.024). Although students with GPAs >3.80 reported the highest levels of happiness in studying (p=0.011) and overall happiness (p=0.135), lowest GPAs’ students (3.20-3.39) had the lowest levels of happiness in studying and overall happiness (p=0.02, p=0.045). 

Discussion and Conclusions:
These results suggested a positive correlation between GPAs and medical students’ satisfaction and happiness. However, it is important to note that this relationship is not linear. In fact, students with medium grades appeared to experience the lowest levels of stress. Conversely, students with low grades reported the lowest levels of learning and overall happiness. 

Take-home Messages:
Several factors can affect medical students’ happiness. Thus, it is important for educators to create an environment that supports overall student well-being. 

References (maximum three) 

1. March-Amengual J-M, Cambra Badii I, Casas-Baroy J-C, Altarriba C, Comella Company A, Pujol-Farriols R, et al. Psychological distress, burnout, and academic performance in first year college students. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2023 Aug 6];19(6):3356. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35329044/ 

2. Alzahrani AM, Hakami A, AlHadi A, Batais MA, Alrasheed AA, Almigbal TH. The interplay between mindfulness, depression, stress and academic performance in medical students: A Saudi perspective. PLoS One [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2023 Aug 6];15(4):e0231088. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32243468/ 

3. Pisaniello MS, Asahina AT, Bacchi S, Wagner M, Perry SW, Wong M-L, et al. Effect of medical student debt on mental health, academic performance and specialty choice: a systematic review. BMJ Open [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2023 Aug 6];9(7):e029980. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31270123/