Abstract
An extended duration of study in medical school, often resulting from systemic disruptions
such as strikes, can exacerbate psychological distress among students. This cross-sectional
study surveyed 45 final-year medical students at the University of Benin, Nigeria, to explore
the psychological impacts of prolonged study periods primarily caused by Academic Staff
Union of Universities (ASUU) strikes. Descriptive statistics revealed high stress levels (mean
= 4.04, SD = 0.99), with 75.6% reporting increased anxiety and 71.1% feeling disconnected
from their graduated peers. Financial stress was prevalent (mean = 4.11, SD = 1.10), and
46.7% reported poor or very poor mental health. Odds ratio analyses demonstrated that high
financial stress significantly increased the odds of poor mental health (OR = 7.09, 95% CI
[1.70, 29.54], p = 0.005) and high stress (OR = 13.62, 95% CI [2.95, 62.87], p = 0.0003).
Social disconnection from graduated peers was also associated with poor mental health (OR
= 4.29, 95% CI [0.99, 18.62], p = 0.04). Qualitative responses highlighted burnout, selfdoubt, and financial strain, with students suggesting more autonomous medical school
calendars and enhanced mental health support. These findings underscore the need for
institutional reforms to mitigate the psychological toll of extended medical training.