Psychological Adjustment of Medical Students in Coping with Stress under Chinese Academic Involution: A constructivist grounded theory study

Background: Academic involutionis highly related to medical students’ mental health. The process of psychological adjustment and the ability to cope with stress affects individual health and personal development for medical students. Aim: To explore the process of psychological adjustment and the experiences of medical students coping with stress under academic involution in China. Method: The interviews data analysis included initial coding, focused coding, and theoretical coding using the constant comparative method and memo writing. Findings: “Physical and mental harmony” was identified as the core category. The following seven categories were conceptualized: enlightening exploration, internal adjustment, seeking social support, emotional support, positive self-awakening, individual degeneration, and asymmetrical resources. Conclusion: The findings showed that under the academic involution the goal of medical students in coping with stress is to achieve and maintain physical and mental harmony, in addition, stress of academic involution can be transformed into a positive driving force for medical students through early identification and intervention. Implications for policy: In a stressful environment, schools should be guided by the psychological needs of medical students and provide mental health services that medical students can choose from.