Assessment of motivation for solitude, covid-19 related anxiety and resilience among medical students

BACKGROUND: Covid-19 related lockdowns and restrictions have generated mixed reactions in people. For some, it is a time of agony, anxiety and despair but for others, it has brought the opportunity to spend time alone. People utilize aloneness with different motivations (self-determined versus not self-determined motivations for solitude) and this can determine one’s unique way to deal with life events. This study was designed to assess these motivations for solitude among medical students of a tertiary care centre and to find their relationship with Covid-19 related anxiety and resilience among these students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an analytical cross-sectional study where more than 300 medical students (age above 17, of either gender, from 1(st) year to final year of MBBS) of a tertiary care institute of Eastern India were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. The study was passed by the Institute’s Ethical Committee. Motivation for Solitude Scale – Short Form, COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-Abbreviated (CD-RISC2) were the principal tools to be applied. RESULTS: The collected data is under being entered and will be analysed using the appropriate statistical tests. The obtained results and their discussion will be shared during the presentation. CONCLUSION: The outcome of the study, in terms of different motivations for solitude, is expected to influence the policymaking in assessments as well as psychosocial interventions for vulnerable students during a loneliness crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic.