Coping Mechanism Adopted by Medical Interns to Manage Stress: A Mixed Methods Study

Introduction Understanding the coping strategies adopted by medical interns is essential for promoting well-being and improving the quality of medical education. A mixed methods study was conducted to assess and explore this in a medical college in Bangalore, India. Methods An explanatory mixed methods study design was employed with a quantitative phase followed by a qualitative phase. The Brief-COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory) questionnaire was used to assess the coping strategies among 106 medical interns, and an in-depth interview was conducted among 10 of them. Descriptive statistics were reported as mean (SD) for continuous variables and frequency (proportions) for categorical variables. An independent sample t-test was performed to compare the means between groups. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Transcripts were prepared within 48 hours and analyzed by thematic analysis through manual coding. Results Emotion‑focused coping score was 27.92 (6.30), problem‑focused coping score was 20.29 (4.67), and avoidant coping score was 14.99 (3.98). Acceptance (mean = 5.53, SD = 1.50) was the most commonly used coping strategy, followed by positive reframing, planning, self‑distraction, and active coping, while behavioral disengagement (mean = 3.88, SD = 1.71), denial (mean = 3.42, SD = 1.51), and substance use (mean = 2.48, SD = 1.18) were the least utilized. Qualitative themes evolved based on quantitative findings, i.e., problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and avoidant coping. Emotion-focused coping was the most commonly used coping strategy. Subthemes were talking to family and friends, relaxation through distraction, acceptance and normalization of workload over time, managing through planning and completing, engaging in physical activity, and faith-based practices. Conclusion Problem-focused coping (quantitative findings) and emotion‑focused coping (qualitative findings) emerged as the most commonly adopted coping strategies among medical interns. Acceptance, a subtype of emotion‑focused coping, was the most frequently used strategy. Age and gender differences were observed, with older interns favoring acceptance and male interns more often employing active coping. These findings highlight the strong need for awareness programs and structured interventions that promote the mental well‑being of medical interns.