Prevalence of Stress among Junior Medical Students, Taif University

Abstract

Background: Medical students are exposed to diverse varieties of stress. It is reported during undergraduate medical education stress is related to academic, financial and social. Sometime stress arises from compulsion to succeed and also in difficulties of integrating education system. Methodology:The study was conducted from junior medical students, Taif University, KSA during the academic year 2016-2017; Self-administered questionnaire was utilized to know the prevalence, causes, and levels of stress among students.Results: 82% of study group had moderate stress, 12.67% had severe stress and 5.33% had mild stress. Conclusion:The prevalence of stress among junior medical students in Taif University, KSA was high especially in the past 30 days. Type of residence, average family monthly income, between history of sleep disorder, travel duration in minutes and BMI were the dominators for stress in general. Keywords: Stress; Medical students; Taif university Introduction BackgroundStress is a state of an individual that result from the interaction of the individual with the environment which is perceived as threatening or threat to the well-being. It is an external constraint which directly upsets the individual both mentally and physically. Individual in a stressful situation is influenced by his or her mental ability to carry out on-going tasks [1,2].Linn and Zeppa [3] have suggested that some stress in medical school training is needed for learning. Stress that facilitates learning is called 'favorable stress' and stress that suppresses learning is called 'unfavorable stress' . Depending upon their cultural backgrounds, personal traits, experience and coping skills, medical students may perceive the same stressors differently.An optimal level of stress, referred to earlier as 'favorable stress' , can enhance learning [4] However, excessive stress can lead to physical and mental health problems [5]. It can reduce students' self-esteem [4,6] and may affect academic achievement and personal or professional development. Medical students are exposed to diverse varieties of stress. It is reported during undergraduate medical education stress is related to academic, financial and social. Sometime stress arises from compulsion to succeed and also in difficulties of integrating education system [7,8].Researcher identified stress of medical students are mainly due to curricular overload but not due to personal difficulties [9]. It is because of demanding, intense environment of medical education has created excessive pressure on medical students [10]. There are number of reports indicated that medical school's environment is not congenial and friendly to enhance psychological and physical health of students [11][12][13]. It is less than 3% in any population suffers from psychiatric diseases. Similar figure also observed with medical students before taking admission in medical school [14][15][16][17].Medical students are exposed to regular pressure with overwork of academic burden and examination that brings vario...