Stress Level Comparison of Medical and Nonmedical Students: A Cross Sectional Study done at Various Professional Colleges in Karachi, Pakistan

Iram Saddiqa Aamir

doi:10.4172/2469-6676.100080

Abstract

Objective: To compare the stress levels of medical students with that of other professional colleges. Background: Stress is known to affect learning abilities and also be a risk factor for various health and psychological difficulties. Through earlier studies, stress levels of medical students have established to be high during their academic life. In Pakistan, local epidemiological data about psychological morbidity among medical undergraduate students is infrequent. An extensive electronic Internet-based search failed to locate any study which shows a comparison of stress between medical students and the students of other professions in Karachi, which is the objective of our study. Methods: The study was conducted at various professional colleges all over Karachi. A sample of 600 students, 50 from each of the 12 selected colleges was taken. A standardized stress questionnaire of the International Stress Management Association (UK) was used to assess the stress levels which categorized the level of stress into mild, moderate and severe. Results: Stress levels were found to be higher in medical students, and this stress was mostly attributed to studies according to majority of the medical students (75.6%), where as calculated stress levels were also higher in medical students (54.6%). Conclusion: Stress levels of medical students were found to be suggestively higher than those of non-medical professional students. Thus, medical students should be provided with appropriate counseling and stress relieving activities to prevent the long term antagonistic effects of elevated stress levels on the physical and mental health of future doctors.

Highlights

Stress can be defined as ‘‘a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense’’ and as ‘‘a number of normal reactions of the body designed for selfpreservation’’ (Princeton University, 2001)
Stress levels were found to be higher in medical students, and this stress was mostly attributed to studies according to majority of the medical students (75.6%), where as calculated stress levels were higher in medical students (54.6%)
Medical students should be provided with appropriate counseling and stress relieving activities to prevent the long term antagonistic effects of elevated stress levels on the physical and mental health of future doctors

Summary

Introduction

Stress can be defined as ‘‘a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense’’ and as ‘‘a number of normal reactions of the body (mental, emotional, and physiological) designed for selfpreservation’’ (Princeton University, 2001). Most of the well-known definitions emphasize stress as ‘‘any factor that threatens the health of an individual or has an adverse effect on the functioning of the body’’ (Oxford Medical Publications, 1985). It has been proven through various researches that medical students experience elevated stress levels throughout their medical school life [1,2]. Stress is known to affect learning abilities and be a risk factor for various health and psychological difficulties. Stress levels of medical students have established to be high during their academic life. An extensive electronic Internet-based search failed to locate any study which shows a comparison of stress between medical students and the students of other professions in Karachi, which is the objective of our study

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion