Academic motivation in association with mental health and quality of life among medical and health science students: a survey in Vietnam
Abstract Introduction Academic motivation is crucial in education, it was also found to be associated with various health-relating factors, but it has yet to be well-applied in the admission process of most Vietnamese medical universities. This study aimed to describe students’ academic motivation a...
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2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07368-4 |
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| author | Ngoc Le Mai Duong Viet Ha Nguyen Minh Tri Ngo Dai Minh Le Tien Dat Nguyen Thi Thu Trang Nguyen Huu Tu Nguyen Bao Giang Kim Thanh Tung Pham |
| author_facet | Ngoc Le Mai Duong Viet Ha Nguyen Minh Tri Ngo Dai Minh Le Tien Dat Nguyen Thi Thu Trang Nguyen Huu Tu Nguyen Bao Giang Kim Thanh Tung Pham |
| author_sort | Ngoc Le Mai Duong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Academic motivation is crucial in education, it was also found to be associated with various health-relating factors, but it has yet to be well-applied in the admission process of most Vietnamese medical universities. This study aimed to describe students’ academic motivation and investigate the association between it and depression, anxiety, and quality of life at Hanoi Medical University. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on first and final year students of doctor and bachelor programs from October to November 2018 via a computer-based questionnaire. Academic motivation was assessed using the AMS-C 28 scale. The relationships between academic motivation and anxiety (screened by GAD-7), depression (screened by PHQ-9), and quality of life (assessed by SF-12) were analyzed using modified Poisson regression with robust error variances and linear regression models. Results Among 1723 participants (85.1% response rate), 57.1% were female, 58.4% were first-year, and 75.7% were in doctor programs. The percentage of non-self-determined students was 37.9% (95%CI: 35.3 − 40.5%). The proportion of self-determined students was significantly higher among female compared to male participants (65.1% vs. 58.1%; p < 0.001), among first-year compared to final year ones (68.9% vs. 53.0%; p < 0.001), and among those in bachelors compared to doctor programs (68.7% vs. 60.2%, p < 0.001). Our Poisson regression and linear regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between academic motivation and anxiety disorder (PR = 1.44, 95%CI: 1.03–2.01); depression (PR = 1.62; 95%CI: 1.27–2.06); and quality of life: physical (Coef = -1.47, 95%CI: -2.19 - -0.74) and mental health components (Coef = -2.45, 95%CI: -3.34 - -1.55). Conclusions Female, first-year, and bachelor of health sciences students tended to be more self-determined. More self-determined students were found to have a lower prevalence of depression, anxiety, and higher quality of life. Academic motivation should be further studied to be considered as an admission criterion during the selection process of medical schools to improve the quality of medical education in the future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c660a348ac294fcda1e2d6a7d7fb326a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-c660a348ac294fcda1e2d6a7d7fb326a2025-08-20T03:45:32ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-07-0125111210.1186/s12909-025-07368-4Academic motivation in association with mental health and quality of life among medical and health science students: a survey in VietnamNgoc Le Mai Duong0Viet Ha Nguyen1Minh Tri Ngo2Dai Minh Le3Tien Dat Nguyen4Thi Thu Trang Nguyen5Huu Tu Nguyen6Bao Giang Kim7Thanh Tung Pham8Doctor of Medicine, Hanoi Medical UniversityDoctor of Medicine, Hanoi Medical UniversityDoctor of Medicine, Hanoi Medical UniversityDoctor of Medicine, Hanoi Medical UniversityDoctor of Medicine, Hanoi Medical UniversityCenter for Assessment and Quality Assurance, Hanoi Medical UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, Hanoi Medical UniversitySchool of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical UniversityCollege of Health SciencesAbstract Introduction Academic motivation is crucial in education, it was also found to be associated with various health-relating factors, but it has yet to be well-applied in the admission process of most Vietnamese medical universities. This study aimed to describe students’ academic motivation and investigate the association between it and depression, anxiety, and quality of life at Hanoi Medical University. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on first and final year students of doctor and bachelor programs from October to November 2018 via a computer-based questionnaire. Academic motivation was assessed using the AMS-C 28 scale. The relationships between academic motivation and anxiety (screened by GAD-7), depression (screened by PHQ-9), and quality of life (assessed by SF-12) were analyzed using modified Poisson regression with robust error variances and linear regression models. Results Among 1723 participants (85.1% response rate), 57.1% were female, 58.4% were first-year, and 75.7% were in doctor programs. The percentage of non-self-determined students was 37.9% (95%CI: 35.3 − 40.5%). The proportion of self-determined students was significantly higher among female compared to male participants (65.1% vs. 58.1%; p < 0.001), among first-year compared to final year ones (68.9% vs. 53.0%; p < 0.001), and among those in bachelors compared to doctor programs (68.7% vs. 60.2%, p < 0.001). Our Poisson regression and linear regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between academic motivation and anxiety disorder (PR = 1.44, 95%CI: 1.03–2.01); depression (PR = 1.62; 95%CI: 1.27–2.06); and quality of life: physical (Coef = -1.47, 95%CI: -2.19 - -0.74) and mental health components (Coef = -2.45, 95%CI: -3.34 - -1.55). Conclusions Female, first-year, and bachelor of health sciences students tended to be more self-determined. More self-determined students were found to have a lower prevalence of depression, anxiety, and higher quality of life. Academic motivation should be further studied to be considered as an admission criterion during the selection process of medical schools to improve the quality of medical education in the future.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07368-4Academic motivationMedical studentsMedical educationQuality of lifeAnxietyDepression |
| spellingShingle | Ngoc Le Mai Duong Viet Ha Nguyen Minh Tri Ngo Dai Minh Le Tien Dat Nguyen Thi Thu Trang Nguyen Huu Tu Nguyen Bao Giang Kim Thanh Tung Pham Academic motivation in association with mental health and quality of life among medical and health science students: a survey in Vietnam BMC Medical Education Academic motivation Medical students Medical education Quality of life Anxiety Depression |
| title | Academic motivation in association with mental health and quality of life among medical and health science students: a survey in Vietnam |
| title_full | Academic motivation in association with mental health and quality of life among medical and health science students: a survey in Vietnam |
| title_fullStr | Academic motivation in association with mental health and quality of life among medical and health science students: a survey in Vietnam |
| title_full_unstemmed | Academic motivation in association with mental health and quality of life among medical and health science students: a survey in Vietnam |
| title_short | Academic motivation in association with mental health and quality of life among medical and health science students: a survey in Vietnam |
| title_sort | academic motivation in association with mental health and quality of life among medical and health science students a survey in vietnam |
| topic | Academic motivation Medical students Medical education Quality of life Anxiety Depression |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07368-4 |
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