A Focus Group Study Exploring Perceived Stress and Coping Skills among Medical and Non-Medical College Students

Abstract

Purpose: In the era of interprofessionalism, it is less clear whether medical students perceive similar stress and coping behavior with non-medical peers. We aimed to explore and compare stress and coping experiences of the two different fields of college students. Methods: Three focus group sessions were held to collect the opinions of college students in northern Taiwan. Twenty-three volunteered students were recruited from heterogeneous departments. Each group session lasted for about 120 minutes under guidance of two predesigned topics in the group discussion: (1) what are common stressors faced by college students nowadays; and (2) how do college students cope with major stressors? We audiotaped and transcribed the group processes for content analysis and underwent professional and participants’ validation to ensure credibility. Results: Common stressors were identifi ed as academic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and career-related issues with gender and grading differences. Noteworthy, medical students were distinctively stressed out for curricular challenges of their roles as interns and limited knowledge base during clinical training; the gradually heavy workloads, time management and career planning issues were also prevailed. Seeking support from friends or family or getting relief through self-adaptation and outdoor activities were common; while medical students expressed more awareness of support services for mental health in university. Conclusion: Commonalities were seen in stress and coping behavior among medical and non-medical students. However, medical students experienced higher level of stress related to clinical practice and career planning that warrant attention at different grading. Technological-based stress management might be needed in providing better guidance to fight various stressors.