A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY OF PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE IN SOUTH INDIA

Siva Ilango T, Arumuganathan S, Sanjana Bhagavathy V M, Usaid S, Sumithra Devi S, Sethumadhavan V

Abstract


Background: Students pursuing professional courses experience stress more than their counterparts. Increase in levels of stress has significant impact on academic performance which further increase the stress levels thus becoming a vicious cycle and has serious impact on one’s physical and mental health. This study aims to assess the levels of perceived stress among female undergraduate students pursuing health professional courses.

Methodology: Study participants were recruited among the students attending Women’s day programme conducted at Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences. Semi structured proforma and perceived stress scale were given to measure the levels of stress. Eighty four students consented and completed the questionnaire

Results: Mean age of the study participants is 20.08 years. Mean score of perceived stress in Medical, Dental and Nursing is 18.96, 22.96, 19.63 respectively. Difference in stress level was significant in Dental College Undergraduates when compared with Medical Undergraduates (p value- 0.016) and Nursing Undergraduates (p value-0.042). In Nursing undergraduates significant difference observed between 2nd and 3rd year (p value=0.003) and between 1st and 3rd year (p value=0.002).

Conclusion: Majority of the students perceived moderate amount of stress during their undergraduate education. The stress level was found to be higher among Dental Undergraduates when compared to Medical and Nursing Undergraduates. In Nursing undergraduates, differences in stress levels were significantly observed between 2nd year and 3rd year and between 1st year and 3rd year.


Keywords


Perceived stress, Undergraduates, Professional courses

Full Text:

PDF

References


Roberts LW, Warner TD, Carter D, Frank E, Ganzini L, Lyketsos C, et al. Caring for medical students as patients: Access to services and care‑seeking practices of 1,027 students at nine medical schools. Collaborative research group on medical student healthcare. Acad Med 2000;75:272‑7.

Radcliffe C, Lester H. Perceived stress during undergraduate medical training: A qualitative study. Med Educ 2003;37:32‑8.

Firth J. Levels and sources of stress in medical students. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986;292:1177‑80.

Yusoff MS, Abdul Rahim AF, Yaacob MJ. Prevalence and sources of stress among Universiti Sains Malaysia Medical students. Malays J Med Sci 2010;17:30‑7.

Shaikh BT, Kahloon A, Kazmi M, Khalid H, Nawaz K, Khan N, et al. Students, stress and coping strategies: A case of Pakistani medical school. Educ Health (Abingdon) 2004;17:346‑53.

Saipanish R. Stress among medical students in a thai medical school. Med Teach 2003;25:502‑6.

Panchu P, Bahuleyan B, Vijayan V. An analysis of the factors leading to stress in Indian medical students. Int J Clin Exp Physiol 2017;4:48‑50.

Abraham R, Mahirah Binti Zulkifli E, Soh E, Fan Z, Ning Xin G, Tan J, et al. A Report on Stress among First Year Students in an Indian Medical School; 2017.

Iqbal S, Gupta S, Venkatarao E. Stress, anxiety and depression among medical undergraduate students and their socio‑demographic correlates. Indian J Med Res 2015;141:354‑7.

Anuradha R, Dutta R, Raja JD, Sivaprakasam P, Patil AB. Stress and stressors among medical undergraduate students: A cross‑sectional study in a private medical college in Tamil Nadu. Indian J Community Med 2017;42:222‑5.

Nandi M, Hazra A, Sarkar S, Mondal R, Ghosal MK. Stress and its risk factors in medical students: An observational study from a medical college in India. Indian J Med Sci 2012;66:1‑2.

Supe AN. A study of stress in medical students at seth G.S. medical college. J Postgrad Med 1998;44:1‑6.

Kumar GS, Jain A, Hegde S. Prevalence of depression and its associated factors using beck depression inventory among students of a medical college in Karnataka. Indian J Psychiatry 2012;54:223‑6.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.