Perception of stress and coping strategies by medical students at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Medical students face a number of stressors, which affect their academic performance and quality of life. Previous research has shown that coping strategies decrease the level of stress among medical students. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of stress and the strategies for coping perceived by medical students. In a cross-sectional study, 319 first-year medical students at King Saud University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (188 males and 131 females), were invited to fill in a self-administered questionnaire on the last day of the 2012–2013 academic year. The response rate was 45.5%. The questionnaire comprised 22 items on stress factors and 17 items on coping strategies. The responses were measured quantitatively on a five-point Likert scale. The response rate was 45.5% (145 of 319 students). The stress factors identified by students were lack of time, excessive subject content, tests, demanding too much of themselves, too many extracurricular activities, competitiveness and family problems. The coping strategies were: respecting one’s limits, setting priorities, avoiding comparisons and participating in leisure activities (cinema, reading, sports, meeting friends and family). The prevalence of perceived stress among medical students was high. This might affect not only their academic performance but also all aspects of health and life. There is a wide range of strategies for coping with stress, and student councils could play an important role in helping students cope with stress.