A study of Psychological stress in undergraduate Medical students at S N Medical College, Bagalkot, Karnataka
2869-2874
Correspondence
Dr. A. S. Dorle, Associate Professor
ashok.dorle@rediff.com
contact number : 09448408244
Background: Medical students are known to be the victims of tremendous mental stress. In recent years, mental stress has been on the rise and this may affect their learning and academic performances. They face tremendous competition and fear of failure. Very few studies on this subject have been reported by Indian researchers.
Objectives: To study the levels of psychological stress and its relationship with personal/ curricular variables in undergraduate medical students.
Materials and Methods: Setting: Descriptive cross sectional study in undergraduate medical students.
Sample size: 251 students
Scores used in the study: The scores have been given on the basis of the Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale [PSLES].
Statistical test used: Chi-square test
Results: 42.63% of the study subjects had experienced less/moderate stress and 47.01% of them had experienced severe stress. 78.26% of the smokers and 68.97% of the alcoholics had severe stress. The statistical association between the history of alcohol intake, smoking and the PSLES results was found to be significant. The stress was found to be more among repeaters and the association between them was statistically significant.
Conclusion: The students with psychological stress were found to be involved in habits like tobacco chewing and smoking, as well as alcohol intake. The repeater students had significantly higher stress as compared to their regular batch counterparts.