Mean Perceived Stress Scale Score Research Articles

The Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Perceived Stress in Adolescents.

The study was conducted to determine the relationship between social media addiction and perceived stress in adolescents. The study was conducted in a descriptive and cross-sectional design between September and December 2022 in secondary education institutions of the Provincial Directorate of National Education in a city center in eastern Turkey. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 716 adolescents who were studying in the ninth grade (145), 10th grade (198), 11th grade (216), and 12th grade (157) who met the inclusion criteria of the study at the time the study was conducted. The sample comprised individuals with diverse sociodemographic characteristics, including ages, genders, school success levels, parents' education levels, parents' job status, socioeconomic status, time spent on daily social media, and purposes of social media use of the adolescents. The "Sociodemographic Characteristics Form," "Social Media Addiction Scale for Adolescents (SMASA)," and "Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)" were used as the data collection tools. Ethical principles were fulfilled in the study. It was found that the average age of the adolescents who participated in the study was 15.71 ± 1.22, 58.1% were females, 41.1% had good school success, 90.5% had a mobile phone, 90.2% used WhatsApp, 56.8% said that their daily social media use time was between 1 and 3 h, and 64% said that their purpose of using social media was for entertainment and leisure. The mean SMASA score was 18.49 ± 6.98, and the mean PSS score was 42.11 ± 7.54. It was found in the study that the mother's employment status, phone ownership status, use of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn accounts, daily social media use, time and purposes of using social media affected the mean SMASA score. Age, gender, school success, use of Instagram and Snapchat accounts, daily social media use time, and purposes of using social media affected the mean PSS score (p < 0.05). As a result of the study, a positive and low-level significant relationship was detected between social media addiction and perceived stress levels (p < 0.01). As the levels of social media addiction increase in adolescents, the perceived stress levels also increase. It was also found that some variables affected the social media addiction and perceived stress levels of adolescents.

Physical therapy students’ perceived levels and sources of stress during clinical education experiences

Purpose: Stress has been linked to poor performance and mental health disorders in health professions students. Very little is known about health professions students’ stress during clinical education. The purpose of this study was to explore the levels and sources of stress experienced by Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students during the clinical education portion of their curriculum. Methods: In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, 925 first-, second-, and third-year DPT students from eight Midwestern colleges and universities were invited to complete an electronic survey during a clinical experience. The survey included demographic information, the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Undergraduate Sources of Stress (USOS) scale. Results: The response rate was 28% with a total of 259 returned surveys. The mean PSS score was 14.15 out of a possible 40, with a range from 0 to 30. There were significant differences in levels of stress based on program year and clinical level. No significant differences in level or sources of stress were noted based on gender or clinical setting. Academic sources were the greatest source of stress reported. Amount of student debt and percentage of responsibility for graduate education were significantly correlated with financial sources of stress. Conclusion: Participants in this study reported mean PSS scores during clinical education experiences similar to those previously reported for physical therapy. Identifying perceived stress levels, sources of stress, and mitigating factors has the potential to improve the health of students and positively impact patient care.

The Effects of Laughter Therapy on Perceived Stress and Quality of Life in Women With Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy: A Parallel-Group Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

Women with breast cancer experience various symptoms secondary to chemotherapy that reduce their quality of life and increase their stress levels. To evaluate the effects of laughter therapy on perceived stress levels and quality of life in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy using a parallel-group randomized controlled pilot trial. Forty-two women were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 40 minutes of laughter therapy twice a week for 8 weeks. The control group received routine treatment. The women in both groups completed the Perceived Stress Scale and SF-12 Health Survey at baseline, week 5, and week 9 after randomization. There was a significant decrease in the mean Perceived Stress Scale scores in the intervention group compared with those in the control group at weeks 5 and 9 compared with baseline, and the difference between groups by measurement week was significant (P < .001). Women in the intervention group had higher Physical Component Summary-12 and Mental Component Summary-12 scores in weeks 5 and 9 compared with those in the control group, and there was a significant difference between groups in terms of change in the Physical Component Summary-12 and Mental Component Summary-12 mean scores over time (P < .001). Laughter therapy is possible to use as a nursing intervention to reduce the perceived stress levels and increase the quality of life of women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. Nurses can apply laughter therapy in the symptom management of women receiving chemotherapy.

The effect of physical activity on stress levels of medical students: A cross-sectional analysis

Objectives To determine association between physical activity and hours of physical activity and stress levels in medical students Methods A cross sectional study was conducted at a private medical college in Karachi, during April and May 2015. Convenience sampling was used to identify the study participants. The subjects were medical students from year one through five. We interviewed 235 students. A pre-tested, self-administered three-part questionnaire was used to collect the data. The first part of the questionnaire inquired about the subjects’ demographics and exercise habits, the second part of the questionnaire was adapted from the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to determine stress scores within participants, and the third part of the questionnaire asked about other stress relieving factors. Results According to the PSS, 30.3% of the participants were moderately stressed. The mean PSS was found to be 16.95 ± 5.72. 2A significant correlation was found between physical activity and stress levels; those involved in physical activity were 52 percent less likely to be moderately stressed (OR 0.48, p-value = 0.015) as compared to those who had not partaken in physical activity. Furthermore, studentswho performed physical activity for &gt;4 hours per week had a lower mean PSS score (16.2) when compared to those who exercised for &lt;2 hours per week. (18.2). Post-hoc statistical testing revealed the difference to be significant (p=0.028). Conclusion Based on the findings of our study, we conclude that physical activity of any form is associated with significantly decreased stress levels in medical students.

The Relationship Between Stress and Burnout: A Sample of Automotive Factory Workers

The purpose of this research is to determine the relationship between stress and burnout in employees of an automotive factory. This research was conducted descriptively with 306 participants at Sango Automotive Products Industry and Trade Joint Stock Company in Kocaeli/Türkiye between April and July 2021. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Perceived Stress Scale and Burnout Scale-Short Version. The mean Perceived Stress Scale score of participants was 25.11±7.39; The average score of the Burnout Scale were 29.69±12.61. A statistically significant positive relationship was determined between the mean Perceived Stress Scale scores and Burnout Scale scores of participants (r=0.67; p

Determinants of Perceived Stress among Indian Adults during Second Wave of COVID-19

The present study was conducted from June–July, 2021 in online mode and a questionnaire was designed at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Community Science, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. The study aims to find an association of perceived stress with socio-demographic factors, health profile and physical activity among Indian adults during the second wave of COVID-19. Data on perceived stress was collected through an online cross-sectional survey of 1933 Indian adults based on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Multivariate ordinal regression was conducted to identify the predictors of perceived stress. Indian adults were moderately stressed, with a mean PSS score of 19.7±5.5 during the crisis time of COVID-19. The study population remained moderately active (59.3%) during the lockdown period. Perceived stress was negatively associated with age, education, income, and physical activity and positively associated with random blood sugar levels and sitting time. Odds of perceived stress increased with female gender, separated marital status, having one child or adolescent in the family, graduate or postgraduate as the educational status of the family’s head, and increased sitting time. High educational status, retirement, regular employment, middle or lower-class social class, and high physical activity level were negative predictors of perceived stress. The current investigation highlights the role of multiple factors in the perception of stress and the need for tailored interventions for vulnerable groups focusing on education and physical activity.

Stress and Anxiety Levels of International Nursing Students: Case of Northern Cyprus

Introduction: Stress is a multifaceted concept that focuses on changes in the interaction between people and their environment. Stress, which is increasing in developing and rich countries, is one of the biggest problems affcting the health sector, especially universities, and especially nursing practices. Aim: This study aimed to determine the stress and anxiety levels of undergraduate nursing students. Method: This descriptive study was conducted on 223 international nursing students studying at Near East University to determine the stress and anxiety levels of nursing students. Data were collected through online Google Forms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and Sociodemographic questionnaire in December 2022 and January 2023. Results: Of the students participating in this study, 182 (81.6%) were female and 41 (18.4%) were male. Students' average Perceived Stress Scale score was 22.00 ± 8.52; Generalized Anxiety Disorder -7 Scale mean score were found to be 7.43 ± 6.43. Perceived Stress Scale average scores vary depending on students' grade point averages and alcohol/substance use while under stress. Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 Scale mean scores vary depending on alcohol/ substance use while under stress (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Educational programs should be organized to enable students to cope more effctively with the stressors they encounter. On the other hand, it is recommended to create learning environments that will help alleviate the stress and anxiety that students encounter during the education process.

Effectiveness of Group Health Education on "Perceived Stress" among High-School Children of Kolar: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Adolescents are exposed to various psycho-physiological stressors due to rapid changes in their bodies along with increased academic pressure, peer pressure, and pressures from other sources of society. Group health education sessions in schools could have a positive outcome in not only the way they perceive stress but also tackle it efficiently. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of group health education intervention on "perceived stress" among the high school children of Kolar. An open-label cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted among high school students (8th, 9th, and 10th standard) in selected English Medium Schools of Kolar Taluk. The study was conducted in three phases spanning 5 months of duration. Phase I included baseline data collection wherein "perceived stress" level was captured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) 10 questionnaire. Phase II was the interventional phase in the form of group health education sessions. Phase III was end-line assessment. Before the intervention, 6.2%, 92.4%, and 1.5% of the students had mild, moderate, and severe stress, respectively, in the intervention group. After the intervention in the intervention group, about 57.9% had mild stress, 42.1% had moderate stress, and none had severe stress. The difference in difference analysis (DID) showed that the mean PSS scores in the intervention group changed by -8.84 while in the control group by 0.40. Group health education delivered was effective in reducing the perceived stress levels among high school children and it is a feasible and acceptable intervention for stress in school-going adolescent children.

Exploring the Experience of Academic Stress, Eating Behavior, and Food Choice among Black University Students

Introduction: Academic stress is a common problem faced by university students in the UK, and it tends to affect dietary practices. The study explored the experience of academic stress, eating behaviour and food choice among black university students. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. A convenience sampling technique was utilised. Validated outcome measures were used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Association between variables were considered significant at p&lt; 0.050. IBM SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. Result: The response rate was meagre (n=42). The mean perceived stress scale score was 20.49±6.71, depicting moderate academic stress. The mean food group diversity score (FGDS) was 9.32±1.16 in Nigeria and lesser (6.38±2.090) in the UK. Rate of Food group adequacy (FGA) was 36(97.3%) in Nigeria as compared to the UK 19(51.4%). Consumption of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – protective food groups (NCD protective) was higher (7.78±1.65) in Nigeria compared to the UK (4.35±2.41). However, consumption of food that predisposes to NCDs (NCD risk) was higher (7.73±1.84) in Nigeria, compared to the UK (5.16±3.59). Participants’ compliance with global dietary recommendations (GDR) was higher (9.054±2.449) in Nigeria compared to the UK (8.189±3.487). The differences between dietary indicators (FGDS, FGA, GDR, and NCD protective, NCD risk) scores in Nigeria and the UK were statistically significant as (p&lt;0.01) in each case. Lastly, the academic stress level had a moderate negative significant correlation with their eating behaviour and food choices as measured by their GDR score (r=-.371, p=0.024). Conclusion: Stress level was moderate, which negatively affected their dietary quality suggesting the need to implement supportive measures and educational programmes that can contribute to better stress management and improved nutritional practices. Further studies should ensure usage of a large and more diverse sample to aid usability and generalizability of findings.

Relationship between Athletic Identity and Stress in Division II College Softball Players

Athletic identity (AI) can be defined as how an individual perceives themselves as an athlete. Although there are many resources for athletes when it comes to physical health, resources for mental health and balancing their AI with everyday life is sorely lacking. As a result, an athlete’s level of stress both inside and outside of their athletic career may increase. Stress that is related to high levels of AI can bring forth negative consequences, such as decreased concentration, focus, and poor academic performance, especially in the case of the student-athlete. The purpose of this study was to investigate stress in relation to AI in a Division II female softball team. Softball players (n = 27) completed the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The mean PSS score was 32.39 out of a 40-point scale. The AIMS mean only showed a moderate level of AI (45.61 of 70-point scale). Pearson correlational analysis demonstrated that only a minor association existed between AI and perceived stress, but this correlation was not statistically significant (r = .36, p = .093). Results and implications from this study are discussed as to optimize student-athletes’ mental well-being.

Perceived stress among Sri Lankans during the economic crisis: an online survey

Background: The Sri Lankan population's mental health was undoubtedly significantly impacted by the county’s economic crisis. This study investigated the prevalence of perceived stress and its socio-demographic predictor. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken in July-August 2022, using google forms. The respondents were assessed for socio-demographics, and the level of stress experienced over the previous month. Ten-item self-reported perceived stress scale (PSS) was used to assess stress levels analysis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used. Results: A total of 1214 respondents, aged ≥18 years were included in the survey. The majority were females (60%). The mean PSS score of this population was 21.95 ±6.09. More than half of the respondents reported moderate levels of stress (68.5%), while 23% registered high levels. A significant association was demonstrated between stress levels and variables age, gender, and residential area. Respondents below the age of 40 years (OR 1.936, 95% CI, 1.365-2.748, P&lt;0.001) were more likely to report higher odds of having increased PSS scores, while men (OR 0.640, 95% CI, 0.491-0.835, P=0.001), and those without children (OR 0.556, 95% CI, 0.409-0.756, P&lt;0.001) had significantly lower odds of reporting PSS. Conclusion: Respondents experienced moderate to high levels of stress during the financial crisis in Sri Lanka. Higher stress was predicted by younger age, female gender, and having children. The results highlight the urgent need for stress management interventions to boost resilience and improve psychological well-being in this situation.

Ağırlık Önemlidir: Belediye Otobüs Şoförlerinde Fazla Kilo ve Obezite Prevalansı ile Fiziksel Aktivite, Stres, Duygusal Yeme ve Diyet İlişkisinin İncelenmesi

Aim: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among municipal bus drivers in İstanbul province and&#x0D; explore the intricate relationships between weight status, physical activity levels, stress perception, emotional eating tendencies, and&#x0D; dietary patterns within this occupational group.&#x0D; Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 380 bus drivers. Data were collected through&#x0D; face-to-face interviews using a data collection tool consisting of an information form, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire&#x0D; Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Emotional Eating Scale (EES), and 24-hour Dietary Recall.&#x0D; Results: The findings revealed that 85.8% of the participants were overweight (52.6%) or with obesity (33.2%). The mean PSS score&#x0D; was 25.8±6.7, and the mean EES score was 29.3±10.8. The participants exhibited low physical activity levels (96.1%), with a mean&#x0D; of 246.2±165.4, signifying inactivity. Weak positive correlations were found between PSS and ESS scores. Dietary analysis showed a&#x0D; moderate energy intake of 1674.4±429.5 kcal. Individual variability in energy intake and nutrient consumption patterns was evident.&#x0D; Conclusion: The high prevalence of overweight and obesity among municipal bus drivers highlights the importance of targeted&#x0D; interventions for improved lifestyle and reduced health risks in this occupational group.

Correlation between levels for stress with level of empathy in undergraduate medical students.

To determine the correlation between levels of stress with level of empathy in all five years of undergraduate medical students of a private medical college in Pakistan. This descriptive correlation study was conducted at Al Tibri Medical College, Karachi from 15th June to 14th November 2021. Of the 500 students in the medical school, 408 participants filled out the questionnaires through online Google Forms. The student's version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE-S) estimated the self-reported student's empathy levels. At the same time, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was utilized to assess the student's levels of stress. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 and correlation between empathy and perceived stress was calculated by Pearson's coefficient. A p-value <.05 was considered statistically significant. Out of 408 participants, there were 217(53.2%) males, and 191(46.8%) females. The overall mean JSE-S score was 94.60±11.85, and the mean PSS score was 20.20 ±5.70. Empathy scores improved over the basic sciences years and then significantly decreased in the clinical years of medical college with a significant p-value of .019. The highest stress was present in third year medical students with a p-value of <.001. No statistically significant difference was present between empathy and stress levels (r = 0.04, p = .40). The study showed no statistically significant correlation between empathy and stress. Future research is needed to investigate other main factors for the decline in empathy among medical students.

Breath-centered virtual mind-body medicine reduces COVID-related stress in women healthcare workers of the Regional Integrated Support for Education in Northern Ireland: a single group study.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers endured prolonged stress affecting their psychological well-being. Objectives: (1) Evaluate the effects of the Breath-Body-Mind Introductory Course (BBMIC) on COVID-related stress among employees of the Regional Integrated Support for Education, Northern Ireland, (2) Reduce the risk of adverse effects from COVID-related stress, and (3) Evaluate the effects of BBMIC on indicators of psychophysiological states and the consistency with hypothesized mechanisms of action. In this single group study, a convenience sample of 39 female healthcare workers completed informed consent and baseline measures: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Stress Overload Scale-Short (SOS-S), and Exercise-Induced Feelings Inventory (EFI). Following the online BBMIC 4 h/day for 3 days and the 6 week solo (20 min/day) and group practice (45 min weekly), repeat testing plus the Indicators of Psychophysiological State (IPSS) and Program Evaluation were obtained. Baseline (T1) mean PSS score was significantly elevated compared to a normative sample: PSS = 18.2 vs. 13.7 (p < 0.001) and improved significantly 11 weeks post-BBMIC (T4). SOS-S mean score declined from 10.7(T1) to 9.7 at 6 week post-test (T3). The SOS-S proportion of High Risk scores found in 22/29 participants (T1), dropped to 7/29 (T3). EFI mean subscale scores improved significantly from T1 to T2 and T3 for Revitalization (p < 0.001); Exhaustion (p < 0.002); and Tranquility (p < 0.001); but not Engagement (p < 0.289). Among RISE NI healthcare workers affected by COVID-related stress, participation in the BBMIC significantly reduced scores for Perceived Stress, Stress Overload, and Exhaustion. EFI Revitalization and Tranquility scores significantly improved. More than 60% of participants reported moderate to very strong improvements in 22 indicators of psychophysiological state, e.g., tension, mood, sleep, mental focus, anger, connectedness, awareness, hopefulness, and empathy. These results are consistent with the hypothesized mechanisms of action whereby voluntarily regulated breathing exercises change interoceptive messaging to brain regulatory networks that shift psychophysiological states of distress and defense to states of calmness and connection. These positive findings warrant validation in larger, controlled studies to extend the understanding of how breath-centered Mind-body Medicine practices could mitigate adverse effects of stress.

Stress and coping strategies among higher secondary and undergraduate students during COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal.

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly affected lives around the globe and has caused a psychological impact among students by increasing stress and anxiety. This study evaluated the stress level, sources of stress of students of Nepal and their coping strategies during the pandemic. A cross-sectional web-based study was conducted during the complete lockdown in July 2020 among 615 college students. Stress owing to COVID-19 and the lockdown was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief COPE) was used to evaluate coping strategies. To compare the stress level among participants chi-square test was used. The Student's t-test was used to compare Brief COPE scores among participants with different characteristics. The majority of study participants were female (53%). The mean PSS score was (±SD) of 20.2±5.5, with 77.2% experiencing moderate and 10.7% experiencing a high-stress level. Moderate to high levels of stress were more common among girls (92.6%) than boys (82.7%) (P = 0.001). However, there was a significant difference in perceived stress levels disaggregated by the students' age, fields and levels of study, living status (with or away from family), parent's occupation, and family income. The mean score for coping strategy was the highest for self-distraction (3.3±0.9), whereas it was the lowest for substance use (1.2±0.5). Students with a low level of stress had a higher preference for positive reframing and acceptance, whereas those with moderate to high levels of stress preferred venting. Overall, students experienced high stress during the lockdown imposed as part of governmental efforts to control COVID-19. Therefore, the findings of our study suggest stress management programs and life skills training. Also, further studies are necessary to conduct a longitudinal assessment to analyse the long-term impact of this situation on students' psychological states.

Perceived Stress and Hopelessness in COVID-19 Contacts

Aim: We aimed to determine the perceived stress and hopelessness levels in COVID-19 patient contacts.Materials and Methods: The study included all COVID-19 contacts who presented to a family health center in Niğde, Turkey between August and October 2020. The data were collected from contacts who were reached daily for a period of 14 days using the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The data were analyzed using the SPSS package program, and p&amp;lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results: While 55.8% of the participants were female, 71% were married, and 46.9% had a chronic disease. The mean age of the participants was 53.44 years. Their mean BHS and PSS scores were 4.40±3.33 and 25.07±5.98, respectively. A statistically significant relationship was found between the participants’ places of residence and occupations and their mean BHS loss of motivation subscale scores (p&amp;lt;0.05). Among the participants, homemakers, those living in districts, towns, or villages, and those with chronic diseases had significantly higher PSS total scale and.stress-distress subscale mean scores than the others. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the ages of the participants and their PSS total scale and stress-distress subscale scores (p&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusion: Although the hopelessness levels of the participants were found low, their stress levels were determined to be high, and most of them thought the pandemic was exaggerated. Due to the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic such as shock, denial, anxiety, worry, and stress in people, it is important to strengthen crisis and stress management efforts and increase awareness, coping and social support resources by prioritizing high-risk groups such as healthcare workers, women, the elderly, those with chronic diseases, and COVID-19 contacts.

The Prevalence and Risk Factors For Poor Sleep Quality Amongst Medical Students: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Undergraduate medical students have consistently been shown to have high prevalence of mental health disorders in comparison to their peers from non-medical backgrounds and sleep quality is a critical aspect for maintaining mental wellbeing. The aim of this study is to compile prevalence on poor sleep quality and analyze its potential risk factors. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University. Undergraduate medical students asked to fill out a self-reported questionnaire that was sent via email which included the 14-point Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). 302 students responded and the data was analyzed using chi square and logistic regression to determine their association with Sex, BMI, Year of Study and Academic Score. Results: The mean age of study participants was 21.58 + 1.41 years and majority were males (58%). The mean PSQI, ESS and PSS scores were 6.35 + 3.28, 7.72 + 4.58 and 28.38 + 7.81 respectively. 11.3% of participants reported poor sleep quality, which was significantly associated with female sex and academic performance. 28.5% of students had excessive daytime sleepiness, which was significantly associated with female sex and academic year (first year). “Stress” and “Overthinking/Anxiety” were the two most common self-reported reasons for Poor Sleep Quality. 85.4% of students were stressed with an average PSS score of 28.38 + 7.81. Conclusion: This study therefore shows a high prevalence of stress with moderate sleep disturbance prevalence, which was associated with female sex and academic performance.

Longitudinal study of mental health changes in residents affected by an initial outbreak of COVID-19 in China.

The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, and the world continues to work to defeat it. We designed this study to understand the longitudinal change in the mental health of residents who experienced the initial disease outbreak in China and to explore the long-term influencing factors. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were administered to the same sample four times: during the initial outbreak (T1), 1 month later (T2), 18 months later (T3), and 26 months later (T4). A total of 397 participants completed all of the follow ups. The mean PSS scores among the four time points showed significant differences (F = 183.98, P < 0.001), with the highest score at T1 (15.35 ± 7.14), a sharp decline at T2 (11.27 ± 6.27), an obvious rebound at T3 (15.17 ± 7.46), and finally a slight decrease at T4 (14.41 ± 7.99). Among the four mean GAD-7 scores, significant differences were also found (F = 242.0, P < 0.001), with the trend that from T1 (7.42 ± 6.03) to T2 (7.35 ± 5.88), the scores remained steady, while they showed an apparent decline at T3 (5.00 ± 5.30) and no obvious change at T4 (4.91 ± 4.81). There were no significant differences among the mean PHQ-9 scores (F = 1.256, P < 0.284). The long-term influencing factors differed for stress, anxiety and depression, but all three were influenced by a history of psychosis at T4, quarantine status and whether the participants' family members were infected during the initial outbreak. The survey revealed that repeated outbreaks in other areas also had an impact on those who experienced the initial outbreak, with a return of stress, a decline in anxiety, and no change in depression, which provides direction for interventions in the future.

PCR46 Assessing the Mental Health of Secondary School Students in the Light of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the lives of high school students as well. Prolonged confinement, social isolation, fear of the disease, or the loss of a close family member are all experiences that students may have endured. Our aim was to assess students’ health and risk behaviours, relationships, and mental health after the fifth wave of COVID-19. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was carried out between 2022.03.01. and 2022. 04.15. We selected Hungarian secondary school students between 15-20 years of age (N=150). Our self-administered questionnaire consisted of questions about socio-demographic factors, perceived health status, peer relationships, satisfaction with life and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The majority of our sample are girls, vocational students and were living in villages. The mean age is 16.85±1.51 years. Most of them spend two hours a day in front of the TV, and an additional three hours with other electronic tools in their free time. 20.8% of students have four, 19.8% have three, 18.8% have five close friends. 52.1% rate their health as “good”, 31.3% as “appropriate”. The mean score of their life satisfaction is 6.34±1.85. Average score of PSS was 31.74± 9.13. The mean PSS score of girls (33.07±9.07) are significantly higher than the boys’ (25.88±6.96; p=0.001). There is no relation between age and PSS score (p=0.161), or the type of school (p=0.412). The study showed significant stress and symptoms of mental problems, especially among girls. The information revealed allows for a better understanding of the health indicators and psychological characteristics of adolescents. Our results provide information for the development of prevention programs, thereby contributing to the reduction of adolescents’ behavioural disorders.

Changes in Perceived Stress of Pharmacy Students Pre- and Mid-COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine (1) the difference in perceived stress in first-year pharmacy students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) the difference in perceived stress among pharmacy students working different numbers of hours. Methods: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), via an electronic survey, was administered throughout 2016–2021 using Qualtrics. End-of-year PSS scores were compared between the pre-pandemic group (2016–2018) and mid-pandemic group (2019–2021) using independent t-test and ANCOVA. All analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistic Version 28.0. Results: A total of 209 first-year pharmacy students participated (response rate of 88%). No significant difference in mean PSS score was detected in the mid-pandemic cohort when compared to pre-pandemic. The mean PSS score was greater in those who worked greater than 10 h weekly compared to those who worked less. Those who did not work had an even greater mean PSS score than those who worked. Conclusions: No significant difference was observed in perceived stress between the pre-pandemic and mid-pandemic cohorts, and an increased perceived stress score was observed in pharmacy students who did not work in comparison to students who worked 1–9 h and 10–29 h.