Association of ABO blood groups with academic stress and academic performance of the first-year undergraduate medical students in an Indian Medical College

Abstract

Background: Different blood groups are associated with various personality traits, perceived stress and intelligence of an individual. Assessment of students’ academic performance helps to judge their knowledge, skill, and affective domains. Aims and Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine association of ABO blood groups among undergraduate medical students with academic stress and their academic performance. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 99 1st-year undergraduate medical students in Indian medical College. Blood group was determined by agglutination reaction. Academic stress was estimated using medical students stressor questionnaire score. Academic performance of student was assessed from marks of terminal examination. Results: In the present study, academic related stress level was highest in A blood group students followed by B blood group. Blood Group A students also have higher interpersonal related and teaching learning related stress levels. Whereas AB blood group students have higher social related, drive related and group activity related stress levels though not statistically significant. Mean academic scores were highest for AB blood group students, followed by O blood group students. B blood group students had least academic scores but not statistically significant. Furthermore, Blood group AB and O shows negative correlation, whereas A and B blood group shows positive correlation of academic stress with academic scores. Conclusion: Academic stress was highest for A blood group followed by B blood group and academic performance was highest in AB blood group followed by O blood group. Significant association of different blood groups with academic stress and performance was not found.