Organizational Psychology

Purpose. The article presents the results of an empirical study of differences in the levels of educational and work motivation, existential fulfillment, stress and anxiety among medical university’s students working with patients with COVID-19 during the pandemic. Method. The sample (N = 163) consisted of three groups balanced by the number of respondents: students working with COVID-19 patients on their own volition; working with COVID-19 patients as part of mandatory practical training; not working with patients during the pandemic. Findings. It was revealed that students who voluntarily work with patients with COVID-19 demonstrate statistically significantly higher rates reflecting the internal nature of motivation to study and to work compared to students involved in working with COVID-19 as part of compulsory practice. Moreover, the group of volunteer students showed statistically significantly higher rates of existential fulfillment and ability to withstand stress compared to the group of students working with COVID-19 as part of compulsary practice and compared to the group of students not working with patients during the pandemic. Value of results. The data obtained emphasize the significant role of intrinsic motivation of medical students to learn and master professional activity for their subsequent medical work in the practical health care system.