Abstract
The aim was to assess perceived stress (PS) and factors associated with PS in Russian medical and dental students. A total of 406 medical and 283 dental students aged 18–25 years that attended the Northern State Medical University in Arkhangelsk, North-West Russia participated in this cross-sectional study. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic and socioeconomic factors, oral health (OH) behavior, and self-reported OH. All students were clinically examined to assess dental caries, oral hygiene, and gingiva. PS was measured by the Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS-10). Of the students, 26.0%, 69.1%, and 4.9% reported low, moderate, and high PS, respectively. Female sex (b = 2.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.38–3.18), dental faculty (b = 1.74, 95% CI: 0.94–2.54), low subjective socioeconomic status (SES) (b = 1.71, 95% CI: 0.91–2.51), and irregular dental visits (b = 1.65, 95% CI: 0.72–2.58) were associated with higher PSS-10 score. These factors were assumed to be clinical meaningful, given that minimal clinically important difference of PSS-10 fell between 2.19 and 2.66 points. The majority of the medical and dental students reported moderate PS. Based on statistical significance and clinical meaningfulness, socio-demographic factors (sex, faculty), subjective SES, and OH behavior (regularity of dental visits) were associated with PS.
Highlights
In 1956, Hans Selye used the term “stress” to describe “the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change” [1]
We found that 69.1% of Russian medical and dental undergraduate students that attended the Northern State Medical University (NSMU) in Arkhangelsk, North-West Russia reported moderate perceived stress measured by Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS-10)
Socio-demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, oral health (OH) behavior, and self-reported OH characteristics were statistically significant factors associated with higher PSS-10 score
Summary
In 1956, Hans Selye used the term “stress” to describe “the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change” [1]. Stress is a normal biological reaction to a potentially dangerous mental, emotional, or physical exposure, chronic stress may result in depression, anxiety, burnout, and other negative health outcomes, including cardiovascular diseases, cold symptoms, and exacerbations of autoimmune diseases [2]. Oral health (OH) is an integral part of general health, and chronic stress may affect OH as well through individuals’ motivation to cope in unhealthy ways (poor diet, poor OH behavior, excessive use of alcohol and tobacco) [3]. Stress leading to the dysfunction of physiological systems [4] may play an important role in dental caries development [5]; Int. J. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 5390; doi:10.3390/ijerph17155390 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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