Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire Research Articles

An investigative study on the causes of depression and the coping strategies among clinical medical students in private universities in North Central Nigeria

BackgroundDepression is among known mental health conditions and students in schools of medicine are not immune to it. In this investigative study, 211 clinical medical students of two private universities from North-Central Nigeria were examined on depression prevalence, the contributory factors and their coping strategies.MethodsThe Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), the Medical Student’s Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) and identified coping strategies according to Coping Oriented to Problems Experienced Inventory (COPE) were instruments of data collection.ResultsThe results were obtained by both descriptive analysis and test of association between some categorical variables. The depression prevalence amongst the participants was 159 (75.4%). Females (124 (78.0%)) were more depressed than males (35 (22.0%)). Factors identified as contributing to depression were the heavy academic workload (124 (78.5%)), insufficient family time (93 (58.1%)) and financial constraints (54 (34.0%)). The most utilized method of coping with their stress was engaging on social media (133 (84.2%)), followed by talking with relatives or friends (99 (62.7%)) and use of recreational drugs (20 (12.8%)). The findings from this study have shown that more than three-quarters of the respondents suffered from varying degrees of depression from mild, 63 (29.9%), moderate, 53 (25.1%) to severe, 43 (20.4%).ConclusionsThe heavy academic workload was a major source of depression. Colleges of Medicine should take pro-active steps towards their students’ mental health and academic workload should be well spaced to reduce the stress imposed by the frequency of examinations.

TINGKAT STRES MAHASISWA FAKULTAS KESEHATAN ANGKATAN 2021 PADA MASA PANDEMI COVID-19

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) a global pandemic. The government provides a policy of limiting activities outside the home, so school activities are suspended. Several studies have shown that this change in teaching and learning habits creates obstacles that will trigger stress in students. New students have their own stress load, such as adjusting to the environment and lecture activities.To describe the stress level of students in the 2021 batch of learning activities at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Duta Bangsa University during the Covid-19 Pandemic. This study used an observational-descriptive method with a cross sectional approach. The data used is primary data, taken from the Indonesian version of the Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ). The research population is the entire batch of 2021 with a total sampling technique of sampling. This study found the results that the majority of students experienced moderate stress as many as 45 people (54.22%), 15 people mild stress (18.07%), 22 people stressed (26.51%) and very stressed 1 person. (1.20%). In this study, most of the 2021 students of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Duta Bangsa University experienced moderate stress.

Stress in First Year Medical Cadets of Armed Forces Medical College, Bangladesh

Introduction: The journey of medical life specially in the military environment is a very stressful for medical cadets. Objectives: To determine stress in 1st year medical cadets of Armed Forces Medical College. Methods: Out of 124 medical cadets, 117 were conducted based on a well established questionnaire that included different established factors of stress. The methodology and purpose of study was well explained to all the cadets and consent was obtained. In this study, the Medical student Stressor Questionnaire with small cadetship related factor 24(MSSQ) was used to identify sources of stress. Each of the questions in this questionnaire can be a potential source of stress in cadet in his academic life. Data were analyzed with SPSS v.12. Relation between variables was assessed with chi-square test with a significance level of 0.05% Results: Of the 124 total cadets, present 117 received questionnaires and completed them returned them. Out of 117 cadets, 82(70%) were female and 117(100%) were unmarried. Moderate stress (1.87) experienced in academic factors as well social factors. Bangla medium students facing relatively more stress than English version background students. Conclusion: This finding suggests, the very medical education is full of multi varieties stressors. More so cadetship accentuates the stress further in medical life. Now the time has come to think the policy maker involved in medical education. Their realistic thinking to reorganized the curriculum according to time limit to ensure a stress free environment as much as possible in the 1st year of MBBS. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 19, No 1 (June) 2023:15-17

Effect of Academic-related and Teaching and Learning-Related Stressors on Eating Habits among Medical Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction:: Stress occurs when people are faced with challenges and feel overwhelmed. Too much stress can cause negative effects on the body. Medical students especially feel a lot of stress due to their curriculum, which affects their eating habits and, in turn, their academic performance. Objective:: This study aimed to assess the effects of academic-related and teaching and learning-related stressors on the pattern of eating habits. Material and Methodology:: A cross-sectional study was carried out among students of private medical universities in UAE. MBBS and BDS students of and above the age of eighteen were included. A standardized questionnaire (Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire) was used to collect data. SPSS version 28 was used to analyze the data. Results:: We identified two main types of stressors: Academic Related Stressors (ARS) and Teaching and Learning Related Stressors (TLRS), resulting in high levels of stress causing them to eat more than usual or less than usual. Most students (82.6%) who ate less or much less than usual had experienced high or severe stress due to academic-related stressors of ‘strenuous task’ (P=0.007). Moreover, 81.5% of students who ate more than usual had experienced high or severe stress when they were nervous and stressed (P=0.004). When feeling “difficulties pile up” and during times when students “lacked confidence” due to teaching-related stressors, 71.7% and 66.3% of the participants experienced mild/moderate stress, respectively and ate less or much less than usual (P<0.05). Conclusion:: We were able to determine the effect of academic-related stressors (ARS) and teaching and learning-related stressors (TLRS) on eating habits. This has led us to discover the importance of well-developed and improved intervention programs by universities to reduce stress and promote healthy eating habits among medical students.

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Stress and Time Perspective with Academic Burnout in Paramedical Students

Background: Academic burnout is a severe problem associated with poor academic performance. Few studies have dealt with the role of stress and time perspective in academic burnout despite significant attention paid to this issue. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between stress and time perspective with academic burnout in paramedical students. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on all paramedical students of Ahvaz, Iran, in 2022. A total of 292 students were selected as the sample through multistage random cluster sampling. The research instruments included the Academic Burnout Questionnaire, the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, and the Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression. Results: There was a significant positive relationship between stress and academic burnout but a significant negative relationship between time perspective and academic burnout (P = 0.001). Stress and time perspective predicted 42% of the variance of academic burnout. Conclusions: Stress had a positive relationship, and time perspective had a negative relationship with academic burnout. Based on the results, paying attention to the role of stress and time perspective in students' academic burnout is more critical than ever.

Examining the State of Stress and Its Influencing Factors in the Students of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Stress is an inseparable part of human life and plays a significant role in student environments as an effective factor in performance, psychological tensions, and interpersonal relationships. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the amount of stress and the effective factors of occupational stress in students of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences. Method: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 266 students of medical sciences in North Khorasan. The samples were selected using an availability sampling method. Data collection was done based on a demographic form and the Medical Student Stress Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS24 statistical software using descriptive statistics and analytical tests, such as independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and linear regression analysis. Results: Most of the participating students were female, accounting for 165 (62%) individuals, with an average age of 21.51 ± 2.94 years. Amongst, 241 participants (90.6%) were single, while 25 cases (9.4%) were married. About 30 individuals (11.3%) were medical students, 96 people (36.1%) were nursing students, and the rest included other paramedical fields. The results showed that the students' stress was, on average, at an extreme level. Stress had a statistically significant relationship with age, field of study, level of computer proficiency, and female gender (P<0.05). Conclusion: Considering the extreme level of stress in medical students, educational managers must adopt methods to control stress in medical students.

Perceived stress, sources of stress and coping strategies among undergraduate medical students of Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Medical students are subjected to various stressors throughout their training, which has a considerable impact on their physical and mental health. Some students have positive ways of coping, while others take to maladaptive coping measures. This study aims to assess severity, sources of stress, and coping strategies among medical students of a non-Western low-income country from South Asia. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was carried out. Demographic variables were collected and stress level was assessed using PSS 14 (Perceived Stress Scale 14). The sources of stress were assessed using MSSQ (Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire) and coping strategies were evaluated using the Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced 28. Results: The response rate was 95%. The mean PSS score was 27.85. Overall, 55% of students were stressed (male 52%, female 60%), the difference among gender was not significant. Basic science students perceived higher levels of stress than clinical clerkship students. Academic related stressors caused higher stress, whereas other variables caused moderate stress. The major stressors were examinations, inadequate time to study, poor marks, extensive amount of learning content, and the need to performing well in the exam. The five most common coping strategies used were active coping, acceptance, planning, self-distraction, and instrumental support. The least common coping mechanism was substance use. All MSSQ domains positively correlated with the total PSS score. Students with higher PSS scores were likely to use behavioral disengagement, venting, and self-blame as the primary coping strategies. Conclusions: Stress level among the medical students is high and mainly in relation to academia. Inadequate guidance from teachers contributed significantly. Stressed students were likely to use maladaptive coping strategies. Strategies to enhance teacher-student communication and adaptive coping measures should be implemented. Further studies should be done to evaluate the effects of stress on the academic outcomes of students.

Perceived stress and anxiety among medical students at Helwan University: A cross-sectional study.

Medical students are prone to high levels of perceived stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact their academic performance, as well as their physical and mental health. This study aimed to assess the main stressors, levels of perceived stress and anxiety, and their predictors among medical students. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 1696 medical students at Helwan University. A cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate their perceived stress, stressors, and anxiety using the Perceived Stress Scale, Medical Students Stressor Questionnaire, and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Approximately 93% of medical students experienced moderate to high levels of stress, while 54.9% of medical students experienced moderate to concerning levels of anxiety. The main stressors were academic, teaching, social, intrapersonal, group activity, and desire-related stressors. Risk factors associated with higher perceived stress included being female, young age, living away from the family, obtaining lower academic percentages, having psychiatric, neurological, or other chronic medical illnesses, and experiencing higher levels of academic, intrapersonal, drive, and group activities-related stressors. Risk factors for higher anxiety included being female, residing in rural areas, having psychiatric, neurological, or other chronic medical illnesses, perceiving a high level of stress, and experiencing higher levels of academic, intrapersonal, and social-related stressors. The findings indicate that a significant proportion of medical students experience various levels of stress and anxiety. These results underscore the urgent need for a stress management program, to help medical students to cope with different stressors.

Stress Among 1st year Medical Students in Bangladesh

Background: The MBBS course is a long and stressful course throughout the world for undergraduate medical students. There is a growing concern about stress among medical students and its effects. Although each year of medical students is characterized by unique stress, the students in their first year are more prone to stressful situations. The reasons include academic pressure, unrealistic expectations and unfamiliarity in a new environment. These stresses are badly affecting their physical and mental health, which also affects their academic performance. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study over four weeks in the year 2022, conducted at different medical colleges in Sylhet. The sample size was 286 first-year MBBS students in different medical colleges. The sampling technique was a non-probability convenient type. Data were collected by using the pretested Medical Students Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) and examined using SPSS, version 22. Results: A total of 286 medical students were recruited, with age range of 19-21years; among them, 90 were male and 196 were female. The maximum number of students found to have moderate stress (185, 64.7%) followed by much stress (80, 28.0%).There were few students with no stress (0.3%), extreme stress (1.0%), and mild stress (5.9%) found in this study. The unpaired t-test showed significantly higher (p = <0.001) stress among females (3.82±0.49) than males (3.52±0.49). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the vast majority of students experienced moderate stress, and analysis highlighted a greater association with academic factors. So, the purpose of our study is to design a proper curriculum for our students where mental health will be given priority.

Gender Correlation of Stress in Mbbs Students in Relation to Covid 19 Pandemic

Objective: Since December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a substantial threat with its associated high mortality, infection, and risk of psychological stress. A large number of students were affected because of a prolonged break from academic activities and staying at home. The focus of this study is to understand the stress levels of M.B.B.S. students, any psychological imbalances, and their major hurdles during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: The study was designed to determine the prevalence of stress levels in 150 medical students to explore the sources of stress, 64 were male students and 86 were female students & it ‘s relationship across the male and female students. Demographic information and Qualitative data from investigator tailored Medical Student Stress Questionnaire (MSSQ) by self-rating under supervision of investigators were subjected to analysis. Results: We observed that medical students were generally stressed during lockdown and the pandemic. Stress perceived was more in males’ students 49/64(76.5%) as compared to females 51/86(59.3%) and their MSSQ index score was significantly different. Moderate to high academic stress was present among 79% of students more so in males with the academic domain score significantly different from that of females. Females perceived more stress in inter personal domain (12.7%) with the score significantly different from males. Group and Teaching stress was equally present in males and females. Conclusion: During the pandemic, students’ mental health needs to be continually monitored as they are stressed owing to fear as well as about their studies and future careers.

Covariates Associated with Mental Health Problems Faced by Undergraduate Medical Students Undergoing Competency-Based Medical Education at a Rural Institution in North India: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Survey

Introduction: Mental health-related problems among medical students were well-researched before the era of competency-based curricula. These problems were revealed to be widespread among college students who experienced greater effort-reward imbalance and over-commitment. Such research is insufficient in the Indian context. Aims: The present study aims to assess the prevalence of mental health problems (stress, anxiety, and depression), and their covariates among female medical undergraduate students. Methodology: A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted from March 2022 to May 2022 on 364 female medical undergraduate students in a rural institution located in Northern India. A stratified random sampling technique was used. The study included a semi-structured sociodemographic with personal and psychological domains proforma along with a Perceived Stress Scale-10, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire, Becks Depression Inventory-II, Medical Students Stressor Questionnaire, and brief-coping orientation to problems experienced to assess perceived stress, anxiety, depression, stressors, and coping mechanisms, respectively. The Chi-square test and backward multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the correlates of dependent variables. Results: Of 364, around 40.7%, 36.5%, and 17.9% of students were highly stressed, anxious, and moderate to severely depressed, respectively, with a mean age of 20.44 ± 1.88 years. The results indicate that poor sleep and irregular exercise patterns were significant covariates of mental health problems. Respondents with interpersonal- and intrapersonal-related stressors were found to have two times (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.632; confidence interval [CI] = 1.216–5.698; P < 0.05) and four times (AOR = 4.230; CI = 1.832–9.763; P < 0.001) higher odds of perceived stress and anxiety symptoms, respectively. A personal history and family history of psychiatric illness among participants influenced perceived stress by 211%–226% while drive- and desire-related stressors influenced depressive symptoms by more than three times (AOR = 3.719; 95% CI = 1.702–8.124; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Findings from the present study suggest that a large number of students are suffering from mental health issues. Modifiable factors such as poor sleep and irregular exercise patterns can be addressed through various wellness programs and group sessions. Various supportive and preventive measures along with scheduled psychological interventions can be adopted by the institution to address various stressors faced by the students.

Evolving Mental Health Dynamics among Medical Students amid COVID-19: A Comparative Analysis of Stress, Depression, and Alcohol Use among Medical Students.

Background and Objectives: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has posed an array of new challenges for medical students worldwide. Amidst academic rigors, students are confronted with unique stressors, potentially affecting their mental health and substance use. This study aimed to investigate the multifaceted effects of depression, alcohol use, and stress on medical students and discern how these factors have been amplified by the pandemic's circumstances, and to identify predictors of mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Materials and Methods: Two online anonymous and cross-sectional surveys were conducted at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hatieganu" in Romania among medical students in 2018 and in 2022. Data were gathered via online questionnaires distributed through closed student groups on social media platforms, with a total of 1061 participants, to investigate stress, depression, alcohol and drug use, and the impact of the pandemic and online education on mental health, maintaining anonymity and ethical approval. The Medical Student Stress Questionnaire (MSSQ) was employed to measure different aspects of stress, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) provided insights into the participants' depressive symptoms, and for the assessment of alcohol consumption habits, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was utilized. Results: Our findings showed a significant decrease in mean depression scores (13.81 vs. 11.56, with p < 0.001) from 2018 to 2022. In 2018, students scored significantly higher in the overall stress-related domains. Additionally, being female, facing financial constraints, and being in pre-clinical years emerged as predictors of heightened academic-related stress and depressive symptoms. Students who had experienced the loss of a family member due to COVID-19 exhibited a statistically significant rise in their average BDI score and current anxiety levels. Conclusions: The pandemic, despite introducing new stressors, may have indirectly fostered an increased focus on students' mental health, leading to more refined support mechanisms. Specialized interventions, taking into account gender and financial problems, are needed to address the multifaceted challenges faced by medical students. Our study highlights the ongoing need to nurture both the academic and emotional strength of future medical practitioners.

Psychological Stress Experienced by First-Year Medical Undergraduates: A Cross-Sectional Study From Eastern India.

Background While medical education is vital for producing competent physicians, its rigorous curriculum can harm students' mental well-being. This study focuses on assessing psychological stress in first-year medical students in Eastern India and aims to identify its primary causes. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 125 first-year MBBSstudents in a tertiary care medical teaching institution in eastern India. They completed the Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ-40) questionnaire to measure stress and provided academic records to be reviewed. Results Among the 125 students included in the study, male students demonstrated greater academic and interpersonal stress. The findings revealed that a substantial proportion (79%) of the student population experienced high to severe levels of academic stress, followed by 88% who reported moderate to high levels of social-related stress. Furthermore, it was observed that those students who experienced high to severe stress across all six domains tended to perform poorly during the initial half of their academic year. Conclusion The high levels of stress experienced by medical students can have significant implications for their academic performance. However, the nature of our study limits us to only highlight the existence of a correlation between the two. Future studies on the same should be conducted to assess the causal relation between these factors.

Perceived stress, sources of stress and coping strategies among undergraduate medical students of Nepal: a cross-sectional study

Background: Medical students are subjected to significant stressors impacting their physical and mental health. While some students employ positive coping mechanism, others resort to maladaptive coping measures. This study aims to assess prevalence, severity, and sources of stress, as well as coping strategies among medical students of a non-Western low-income country from South Asia. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was carried out. Demographic variables were collected and stress level was assessed using PSS 14 (Perceived Stress Scale 14). The sources of stress were assessed using MSSQ (Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire) and coping strategies were evaluated using the Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced. Results: A remarkable response rate of 95% was achieved. Overall, 55% of students were stressed (male 52%, female 60%), the difference among gender was not significant. Initial basic science years students perceived higher levels of stress than later clinical clerkship students. Academic related stressors emerged as leading cause of stress, whereas other variables caused moderate stress. The major stressors were examinations, inadequate time to study, poor marks, extensive amount of learning content, and the need to performing well in the exam. Regarding coping strategies, the study revealed five predominant coping strategies: active coping, acceptance, planning, self-distraction, and instrumental support. Conversely, the least common coping mechanism was substance use. Conclusions: This study reveals a high prevalence of stress level among the medical students, mainly driven by academic pressure. Stressed students were likely to use maladaptive coping strategies. First year medical students require focused support, and promoting healthier coping measures among all medical students is crucial.. Further studies can be done to evaluate the effects of stress on the academic outcomes of students.

The Prevalence and Associated Factors of Academic Stress among Medical Students of King Khalid University: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study.

Medical students are the category of academic population with the highest levels of stress. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of academic stress among medical students in Saudi Arabia and to identify its associated factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine at King Khalid University, Abha. The Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) was used to evaluate the stress caused by different factors. A total of 422 medical students participated in this study. Among the participants, 115 (27.3%) were male and 307 (72.7%) were female. The highest percentage of students were perceiving moderate to severe stress due to academic-related stressors (97.1%), followed by teaching- and learning-related stressors (93.9%) and group activities-related stressors (88.3%). The lowest domain in which students perceived moderate to severe stress was drive and desire-related stressors (65.8%). The mean percentage of students who perceived moderate-to-severe stress in all domains of stressors was 85.5%. We can conclude that medical students have a high degree of stress, and we emphasize the importance of implementing stress management programs to teach students how to handle stress in order to avoid negative effects on their health and academic performance.

A Study to Correlate Stress Score with Heart Rate Variability among MBBS Students at a Tertiary Care Center, Jaipur

Introduction: Medical students have high levels of stress that could be due to stressors related to the academic workload, time pressure competency, professionalism, physical, mental, and emotional issues. This study aimed to find out subjective assessment of stress, stressors, and coping strategies and objective assessment of stress with heart rate variability (HRV) and correlate subjective and objective assessment of stress scores among 1st year MBBS students at RUHS College of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: Institutional ethical clearance (EC-P-21/RUHS) was obtained after that study was conducted among a total of 150 1st year MBBS students. The students were asked to fill out a validated general health questionnaire (GHQ-12), “medical student stress questionnaire 40,” and a brief COPE inventory to assess stress, stressors, and various coping strategies for subjective assessment and objective assessment done by time and frequency domain parameters of HRV. Results: The mean age was 20.85 ± 1.56. The severity of stress categorized as mild, moderate, high, and severe were 17%, 40%, 13%, and 10%, respectively. The most affected stressor was academic contributed to 80% followed by teaching–learning related, social, intra- and interpersonal, group activities, drive, and desire-related stressors 78%, 75%, 73%, 70%, and 68%, respectively. Overall, the students’ coping strategies were mostly avoidant followed by emotional and problem based. HRV is measured by time domain, i.e., PNN50, standard deviation of normal to normal RR intervals, root mean square of successive differences, and “frequency domain parameters,” i.e., low frequency (LF), high-frequency (HF), and LF/HF ratio. Conclusion: In the present study, a positive correlation was observed between HRV and stress score. More than 75% of RUHSCMS 1st year medical students were suffering from measurable academic stress. Time domain and frequency domain parameters were positively correlated with stress score.

The Relationship Between Academic Burnout and Hope for the Future in Medical Students: Mediating Role of the Stress

Background: Academic burnout, in addition to affecting different aspects of the students' personal lives, can have many negative impacts on their academic and family conditions. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between academic burnout and hope for the future through examining the mediating role of stress in medical students. Methods: The statistical population of this descriptive-correlational study included all students at Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences in 2022. Multistage cluster sampling was used to select 301 students. The research instruments included the Academic Burnout Questionnaire, the Attitudes towards Education and Career Prospects Scale, and Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire. The proposed model was evaluated using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: The results showed that the direct path from hope for the future to stress was significant (P &lt; 0.001). The indirect path from hope for the future to academic burnout was significant with the mediation of stress (P &lt; 0.001), while the direct path from hope for the future to academic burnout was not significant. Conclusions: Stress mediated the relationship between hope for the future and academic burnout. It was also found that the proposed model had a desirable goodness of fit and may have been considered a major step in identifying the factors responsible for academic burnout in medical students. Given that stress was a central factor in academic burnout, it was suggested that policymakers should appreciate the necessity of providing the stressed students with support from family members and instructors.

Comparative analysis of the musculoskeletal system disorders and the stress level of sports faculties students in Indonesia and Malaysia

Purpose: to determine the comparative analysis of disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the level of stress of students of sports faculties in Indonesia and Malaysia.&#x0D; Material and methods. 316 students of the Faculty of Sports Science of Indonesia and Malaysia were sampled from this study: 159 students of the Faculty of Sports Science of Indonesia, and 157 students of Sports Science of Malaysia. This research is a comparative analytical observational descriptive study conducted with a cross-sectional approach. This research was conducted in several universities both in Indonesia and Malaysia. The subjects of this study were students from Indonesia and Malaysia who took part in online learning by the criteria of inclusion and exclusion. The instrument used to collect data was a questionnaire for musculoskeletal disorders using a Nordic Body Map while a stress level questionnaire used an MSSQ (Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire). Data analysis techniques use descriptive tests through percentage distribution and comparison tests.&#x0D; The results. Based on the results of the Independent Sample t-test, a calculated t-value of 4.076 with a significance value of 0.000 was obtained. Because the significance value of 0.000 is smaller than 0.05 (p&lt;0.05), it can be concluded that there is a significant difference in musculoskeletal disorders between Indonesian and Malaysian students. The most common musculoskeletal disorder experienced by Malaysian students is a disorder of the lower back with an average of 3.15. Based on the results of the Independent Sample t-test analysis, a calculated t-value of 3.624 with a significance value of 0.000 was obtained. Because the significance value of 0.000 is less than 0.05 (p&lt;0.05), it can be concluded that there is a significant difference in stress levels between Indonesian and Malaysian students. Based on the results of the analysis, the average value of stress levels in Indonesian students was 15.66 while the average value of stress levels in Malaysian students was 17.77. It can be interpreted that students from Malaysia have a higher level of stress compared to Indonesian students.&#x0D; Conclusions. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that: Malaysian students experience higher musculoskeletal disorders in the lower back and high-stress levels due to online learning compared to Indonesian students.

The Relationship Between High Emotional Intelligence and Stress in Medical Students of Medicine Pelita Harapan University During the Covid-19 Pandemic

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) a global pandemic. This also has an impact on students' lives. Most of the students have been in a stressful condition due to changes in the online teaching and learning process as an adaptation to COVID-19. Although it has been reported that emotional intelligence can reduce stress, there are still a few studies that study about the relationship between the two during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among medical students.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A cross-sectional using comparative numerical analysis was conducted with 305 medical students. Data were collected by an online survey using Emotional Intelligence Appraisal (EIA) questionnaire, and Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ). Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results&lt;/strong&gt;: The EIA questionnaire showed that there were 1.3% low EI groups, 38.7% normal EI groups, and 60.0% high EI groups. The MSSQ questionnaire showed that there was 24% mild stress, 49% moderate stress, 26% severe stress, and 1% very severe stress. Normal data distribution was obtained through the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, so that the T-test could be used with a 95% confidence degree (&lt;em&gt;p-value&lt;/em&gt; &amp;lt;0.05). T-test analysis in the high EI group with an average stress (1.76±0.64) and the normal EI group with an average stress (1.40±0.75) showed a significant difference with &lt;em&gt;p-value&lt;/em&gt; = 0.008.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion&lt;/strong&gt;: In accordance with the hypothesis in this study, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a significant relationship between high emotional intelligence and stress in UPH Medical Faculty students.&lt;/p&gt;

Role of Meditation in Ameliorating Examination Stress Induced Changes in Cardiovascular and Autonomic Functions.

Examination stress is a very well-known model of psychological stress in students. It induces changes in systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), along with changes in heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), due to autonomic perturbations. To find out if Raj Yoga meditation (RYM) practice affects autonomic and cardiovascular function in healthy young subjects during periods of examination stress. Our primary objective was to evaluate the effect of one month of supervised RYM practice on ameliorating examination-induced changes in cardiovascular and autonomic function. The secondary objective was to measure the stress levels of medical students before and after RYM. Pre-training measurements of SBP, DBP, HRV, and BRS were done, and the Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) was administered to 80 participants one month before examinations. They were then trained in RYM. Post-training assessment of the same parameters was done after examinations and also after two months. In our study, RYM training decreased DBP (p = 0.01) but not SBP. BRS showed a trend towards an increase after RYM practice, but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.44). The standard deviation of the NN interval (SDNN) (p = 0.03), low-frequency (LF) nu (0.003), and high-frequency (HF) nu (0.04) showed a statistically significant change. Average RR, median RR, average rate, square root of the mean squared differences of successive NN intervals (RMSSD), pRR, total power, LF (µs2), and LF/HF ratio were not statistically significantly different between the three groups. There was a statistically significant decline in MSSQ scores for MSSQ I (p = 0.04), MSSQ II (p = 0.04), and MSSQ IV (p = 0.03). Short-term practice of supervised RYM during stressful periods is protective for the cardiovascular and autonomic systems and decreases stress in medical students.