PREVALENCE OF STRESS AND ANXIETY SYMPTOMS IN UNDERGRADUATE DENTAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of stress and anxiety symptoms in undergraduate dental students. Study Design: In this cross- sectional study, 62 dental students undergoing the second semester answered Lipp’s Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults (LSSI) and the (the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Eleven participants were excluded, due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Data from 51 students were analyzed for stress and anxiety symptoms and the stages of stress, using the IBM SPSS Statistics V.25.0 program. Results: Stress symptom prevalence was 56.9% (n = 29); 2% (n = 1) were in the alarm stage; 45.1% (n = 23) in the resistance stage; and 9.8% (n = 5) in the quasi-exhaustion stage. Anxiety-Trait was present in 80.4% (n = 41) of the participants; whereas 70.6% (n = 36) presented with anxiety-state. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of stress and anxiety among dental students. Since there is a well-established relationship between these symptoms and systemic, psychiatric, and musculoskeletal diseases, measures that increase resilience among university dental students should be taken as early as possible in academic environment. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of stress and anxiety symptoms in undergraduate dental students. Study Design: In this cross- sectional study, 62 dental students undergoing the second semester answered Lipp’s Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults (LSSI) and the (the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Eleven participants were excluded, due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Data from 51 students were analyzed for stress and anxiety symptoms and the stages of stress, using the IBM SPSS Statistics V.25.0 program. Results: Stress symptom prevalence was 56.9% (n = 29); 2% (n = 1) were in the alarm stage; 45.1% (n = 23) in the resistance stage; and 9.8% (n = 5) in the quasi-exhaustion stage. Anxiety-Trait was present in 80.4% (n = 41) of the participants; whereas 70.6% (n = 36) presented with anxiety-state. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of stress and anxiety among dental students. Since there is a well-established relationship between these symptoms and systemic, psychiatric, and musculoskeletal diseases, measures that increase resilience among university dental students should be taken as early as possible in academic environment.