Transformation of the cognitive-emotional sphere in medical and humanities students in the context of digital education

The digital transformation of higher education raises the question of its relationship to changes in students’ personality. Of particular relevance is the study of changes in the cognitive-emotional sphere, which determines adaptation to learning and professional development. The study involved 187 first- and fourth-year students from Sechenov University (medical students, n=92; humanities students, n=95). Methods included assessment of the emotional sphere, cognitive sphere, and personality traits; author-developed questionnaires (sources of anxiety, attitudes toward testing formats, level of digital literacy); analysis of curricula; and collection of objective academic performance indicators. An inversion of indicators was revealed: among humanities students, by the fourth year, emotional intelligence, resilience, extraversion, conscientiousness, and internality decreased, while anxiety increased; among medical students, by contrast, emotional intelligence, resilience, and internality increased, but alexithymia intensified. Data analysis showed that in humanities students the relationship between screen time and anxiety was mediated by decreased expression control; in medical students, screen time correlated with alexithymia. The results deepen understanding of the multidirectional influence of the digital environment on students’ personality depending on their field of study. The identified mechanisms substantiate the need for differentiated psychological and pedagogical support. The practical significance of the study lies in recommendations for optimizing digital training, monitoring digital load, screening risk groups, balancing online and written assessment formats, and preserving students’ psychological well-being.

1. Korytova G.S. Psikhologicheskaya transformatsiya lichnosti obuchayushchegosya v usloviyakh tsifrovizatsii obrazovaniya [Psychological transformation of the student's personality in the context of digitalization of education]. Nauchno-pedagogicheskoe obozrenie [Pedagogical Review]. 2024;(2):159–167. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.23951/2307-6127-2024-2-159-167

2. Xu J., She S., Liu W. Role of digitalization in environment, social and governance, and sustainability: review-based study for implications. Frontiers in Psychology. 2022;13:961057. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.961057

3. Romanova K.V. Vliyanie tekhnologii tsifrovogo obrazovaniya na uroven' ekzamenatsionnogo stressa lichnosti [The influence of digital education technologies on the level of personal exam stress]. Psikhologiya. Istoriko-kriticheskie obzory i sovremennye issledovaniya [Psychology. Historical-critical Reviews and Current Researches]. 2024;13(1A):32–42. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) DOI: 10.34670/AR.2024.83.33.003

4. Gabdullina A.Sh. Vliyanie tsifrovizatsii na kognitivnye funktsii obuchayushchikhsya v vuze v ramkakh inoyazychnogo obucheniya [The influence of digitalization on the cognitive functions of university students in the context of foreign language teaching]. Pedagogika. Voprosy teorii i praktiki [Pedagogy. Theory & Practice]. 2022;7(4):395–403. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

5. Belyaeva Yu.N., Shemetova G.N., Balashova M.E. Vliyanie tsifrovizatsii professional'nogo obucheniya na psikhoemotsional'nyy profil' i rezhim sna studentov meditsinskogo vuza [The impact of digitalization of professional education on the psycho-emotional profile and sleep patterns of medical students]. Ekonomika zdravookhraneniya [Healthcare Economics]. 2025;71(5):21. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) DOI: 10.21045/2071-5021-2025-71-5-21

6. Astakhova L.V. Ponyatie kognitivnoy kul'tury studenta: opredelenie i usloviya razvitiya [The concept of a student's cognitive culture: definition and conditions of development]. Obrazovanie i nauka [The Education and Science Journal]. 2019;21(10):89–115. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) DOI: 10.17853/1994-5639-2019-10-89-115

7. Khrapov S.A. Kognitivnye riski tsifrovizatsii obrazovaniya v kontekste zadach ustoychivogo razvitiya [Cognitive risks of digitalization of education in the context of sustainable development goals]. Nauchno-pedagogicheskoe obozrenie [Pedagogical Review]. 2024;(2):159–167. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) DOI: 10.23951/2307-6127-2024-2-159-167

8. Ghasempour S., Esmaeeli M., Abbasi A., Hosseinzadeh A., Ebrahimi H. Relationship between academic success, distance education learning environments, and its related factors among medical sciences students: a cross-sectional study. BMC Medical Education. 2023;23(1):847. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04856-3

9. Gordienko N.N., Gordienko N.N., Tomanov L.V. Individual'no-psikhologicheskie osobennosti studentov, osvaivayushchikh tekhnicheskie i gumanitarnye spetsial'nosti [Individual psychological characteristics of students mastering technical and humanitarian specialties]. Vestnik universiteta [University Bulletin]. 2010;(14):267–271. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

10. Dvoinina V.K. Tendentsii izmeneniy v kognitivnoy sfere sovremennykh detey i podrostkov kak potentsial'nye faktory podverzhennosti indoktrinatsii v tsifrovoy srede [Trends of cognitive changes in modern children and adolescents as potential factors of their susceptibility to indoctrination in the digital environment]. Mir nauki. Pedagogika i psikhologiya [World of Science. Pedagogy and Psychology]. 2025;13(1). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: https://mir-nauki.com/PDF/118PSMN125.pdf (accessed 12.03.2026)

11. Soldatova G.U., Nikonova E.Yu., Koshevaya A.G., Trifonova A.V. Mediannogozadachnost': ot kognitivnykh funktsiy k tsifrovoy povsednevnosti [Media multitasking: from cognitive functions to digital everyday life]. Sovremennaya zarubezhnaya psikhologiya [Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology]. 2020;9(4):8–21. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) DOI: 10.17759/jmfp.2020090401

12. Uvarova L.N., Lysenkova A.S. Vliyanie tsifrovizatsii i iskusstvennogo intellekta na uchebnuyu deyatel'nost' i psikhicheskoe razvitie uchashchikhsya [The influence of digitalization and artificial intelligence on the educational activity and mental development of students]. Mir pedagogiki i psikhologii [World of Pedagogy and Psychology]. 2025;(4). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) Available at: https://scipress.ru/pedagogy/articles/vliyanie-tsifrovizatsii-i-iskusstvennogo-intellekta-na-uchebnuyu-deyatelnost-i-psikhicheskoe-razvitie-uchashhikhsya.html (accessed 30.04.2025)

13. Elkatmış M. Exploring the features of social media use by Generation Z. Frontiers in Psychology. 2024;15:1370823. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1370823

14. Holzer B.M., Ramuz O., Minder C.E., Zimmerli L. Motivation and personality factors of Generation Z high school students aspiring to study medicine. BMC Medical Education. 2022;22(1):31. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-021-03099-4

15. Allanazarova M.A. Vzaimosvyaz' kognitivnykh kompetentsiy i refleksivnoy samootsenki studentov v epokhu tsifrovizatsii obrazovaniya [The relationship between cognitive competencies and reflexive self-esteem of students in the era of digitalization of education]. Izvestiya Dagestanskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta. Psikhologo-pedagogicheskie nauki [Proceedings of Dagestan State Pedagogical University. Psychological and Pedagogical Sciences]. 2025;19(3):93–110. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

16. Babicki M., Piotrowski P., Mastalerz-Migas A. Insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and quality of life among 20,139 college students in 60 countries around the world – a 2016–2021 study. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2023;12(2):692. DOI: 10.3390/jcm12020692

17. Pushkarev Yu.V., Pushkareva E.A. Faktory, opredelyayushchie razvitie kognitivnykh sposobnostey v usloviyakh tsifrovizatsii protsessov obrazovaniya: obzor tekushchikh issledovaniy [Factors determining the development of cognitive abilities in the context of digitalization of educational processes: a review of current research]. Science for Education Today. 2022;12(6):111–136. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) DOI: 10.15293/2658-6762.2206.05

18. Barsukova N.I., Lesnykh E.A., Obukhova L.E. Psikhologicheskie osobennosti obucheniya estestvenno-nauchnym distsiplinam studentov s gumanitarnym stilem myshleniya [Psychological features of teaching natural sciences to students with a humanitarian style of thinking]. Professional'noe obrazovanie v sovremennom mire [Professional Education in the Modern World]. 2019;9(2):2847–2855. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) DOI: 10.15372/PEMW20190222

19. Galay I.A., Aizman R.I., Bogomaz S.A. Gendernye osobennosti lichnostnogo potentsiala studencheskoy molodezhi v dinamike obucheniya v pedagogicheskom vuze [Gender features of the personal potential of students in the dynamics of studying at a pedagogical university]. Sibirskiy psikhologicheskiy zhurnal [Siberian Journal of Psychology]. 2017;(66):6–19. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) DOI: 10.17223/17267080/66/1

20. Baron N.S. Know what? How digital technologies undermine learning and remembering. Journal of Pragmatics. 2021; 175:27-37. DOI: 10.1016/j.pragma.2021.01.011