The correlates of stress, coping styles and psychiatric morbidity in the first year of medical education at a Nigerian University

Abstract

Objectives: This study was prompted by the heightened concerns about the stress inherent in medical education evident from the incessant requests for suspension of studies due to psychological problems. The objectives of the study were to: (i) survey the students for possible psychological problems at admission, and follow them up till exit for possible changes in morbidity, and (ii) ascertain possible risk factors, and coping strategies. Method: This is a preliminary 2-stage cross-sectional report, which is part of a longitudinal survey. It involves first year medical students of the College of Health Sciences of University of Ilorin between March and April, 2011. Questionnaires used included socio demographic, sources of stress, the general health questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), Maslach's burnout inventory (MBI), and Brief COPE. Data were analysed using SPSS version 15 at 5% significance level. Chi-square, frequency distributions, Pearson's correlation, Odd ratios, and Confidence Intervals were calculated to determine the levels of risk. Results: 79 students returned completed questionnaires. 12 (15.2%) were ghq-12 cases (i.e., scored ≥ 3). Students who had morbidity were 9 times at risk of being stressed consequent upon 'competing with their peers' and 4 times at risk due to 'inadequate learning materials'. Morbidity was significantly more likely to engender use of 'religion', 4 times less likely to engender use of 'positive reframing' with a trend in the use of 'self blame' as coping strategies. Conclusion: Aside from psychosocial/ personal issues in this cohort, academic demand was an additional source of psychological problems thereby causing those who had morbidity to utilize 'religion' and 'positive reframing' to cope. There is therefore an apparent need to incorporate the principle of mental health promotion in medical education.

Gender as a factor in differentiating strategies of coping with stress used by physical education students

“…Nigerian students most often chose to turn to religion; apart from that, they used such strategies as planning, acceptance, and seeking instrumental support. Men chose denial more often than women (Yussuf, Issa, Ajiboye, & Buhari, 2013). Therefore, the study results suggest that preferences concerning coping strategies may be culturally diverse.…”

“…In our study, both men and women ranked turning to religion significantly lower in their hierarchy. Religion was the most frequently applied coping strategy by Nigerian students (Yussuf et al, 2013).…”

Saúde mental em estudantes de medicina

“…Durante o internato, as angústias se intensificam. Incertezas na aplicação dos conhecimentos adquiridos, contato direto com o paciente, longos e exaustivos plantões, redução do tempo livre e a dificuldade na escolha da especialidade médica são alguns dos fatores que os estudos apontam para explicar a maior presença de sintomas de ansiedade e depressão no último ano da faculdade (Al-Faris et al, 2012;Benevides-Pereira & Gonçalves, 2009;Costa et al, 2012;Leão, Martins, Menezes, & Bellodi, 2011;Millan & Arruda, 2008;Yussuf, Issa, Ajiboye, & Buhari, 2013).…”

“…Uma pesquisa realizada na Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (Benvegnu, Deitos, & Copette, 1996) utilizando o Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) revelou que o predomínio de TMC entre os estudantes do primeiro ao décimo período do curso foi de 31,7%. Outro estudo, conduzido na UFPE (Facundes & Ludemir, 2005) Os principais estudos associaram TMC em estudantes de medicina aos seguintes fatores: sexo feminino; alterações no sono; não possuir transporte próprio; sedentarismo; não receber o apoio necessário; dificuldades em fazer amigos; morar sozinho; privação de lazer; contato com a morte e processos patológicos; problemas de adaptação ao local do curso; perspectivas ruins em relação ao futuro; e insatisfação com a escolha profissional (Fiorotti, Rossoni, Borges, & Miranda, 2010;Sohail, 2013;Yussuf et al, 2013).…”

A study of Perceived stress, Coping strategies and Psychiatric morbidity among First year MBBS Students of a Medical College

“…Psychiatric morbidity present in students may also build up stress and usage of non adaptive coping strategies 2,3 . The present study endeavors to evaluate perceived stress, stress coping strategies and psychiatric morbidity in First year MBBS students of a medical college.…”