ASSOCIATION OF PERCEIVED STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES WITH DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN STUDENTS AT A PRIVATE MEDICAL COLLEGE IN ISLAMABAD

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association of perceived stress and coping strategies with depressive symptoms in students at a private medical college in Islamabad.
 Study Design: Correlational study.
 Place and Duration of Study: Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad, from Jun to Dec 2019.
 Methodology: Fourth and Final year medical students of Foundation university medical college were enrolled in the study. Beck’s Depression Inventory was used to assess the depressive symptoms, perceived stress scale (PSS) was the tool used to look for the perceived stress and the coping strategies were assessed using the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems experienced (Brief COPE) Inventory. The association of perceived stress and coping strategies with depressive symptoms and other sociodemographic factors was established with the help of the chi-square test.
 Results: Out of 262 medical students included in the study, 211 (80.5%) had none or mild depressive symptoms while 51 (19.5%) had moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Sixty-six (25.2%) had low stress, 127 (48.4%) had moderate stress while 69 (26.3%) reported high stress levels. Pearson chi-square test revealed that perceived stress and the coping strategies used including self-distraction, active coping, denial, substance use, behavioural disengagement, positive reframing, acceptance, religion/spirituality and self-blaming had a statistically significant relationship with the presence of depressive symptoms among the target population.
 Conclusion: Considerable number of medical students had the presence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms in our study. Perceived stress and some specific kinds of coping strategies had a significant association with the presence of depressive symptoms among the target.......