STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG PREMEDICAL AND UNDERGRADUATE BASIC SCIENCE MEDICAL STUDENTS IN A CARIBBEAN MEDICAL SCHOOL

Abstract

Introduction: Sources of stress and coping strategies have not been previously studied at Xavier University School of Medicine, Aruba. Objective: Hence the present study was carried out to obtain information about sources of stress and coping strategies among different groups of students and note differences, if any, among subgroups of respondents. Method: Sources of student stress and coping strategies were studied using the medical student stressor questionnaire (MSSQ) and the brief COPE. The present study was carried out among premedical and basic science undergraduate medical students during June 2014. Demographic characteristics like gender, semester of study, age and nationality were noted. Mean scores of different groups of stressors and coping strategies were calculated and compared among various subgroups of respondents using appropriate statistical tests (p<0.05). Result: Ninety-two of the 108 students (85.2%) participated. Cronbach's alpha values for various categories of stressor scores were high. The major categories of stressors were academic related and group activity related. Certain stress scores were higher among female respondents and undergraduate medical (MD) students especially those studying in the fourth and fifth semester. The main coping strategies employed were planning, active coping, positive reframing, and acceptance. There were differences in use of certain coping strategies among subgroups of respondents.Conclusion: Academic related stressors were high especially among fourth and fifth semester students. Longitudinal studies following students over their basic science years are required. Studies among students doing their clinical rotations in the United States are required. Studies among students in other Caribbean medical schools are needed.