Perceived Stress, Stressor and the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress of Female Medical Students

Abstract

First year female medical students have heterogeneous educational backgrounds and diferent social-economy conditions, as well as changes in instructional system may cause academic pressure that eventually leads to stress. They are also experiencing academic stressors and life stress due to their daily routines. From this situation, it is discernible that stress prevalence among them is high. This study aims to determine stress source and perceived stress, establish correlation between life stress and perceived stress, and establish correlation between life stress and stress source. This cross-sectional study was conducted to 99 female medical students. The instrument used was the stress source questionnaire, the social readjustment rating scale, and the perceived stress scale-10. The obtained data is analyzed using Pearson correlation and logistic regression. The findings reveal that peer competition (P=0,014), loneliness (P=0,003), and inability to do self-adjustment (P=0,002) are the predictors of perceived stress. There was a significant correlation between the life stress and the perceived stress (sig 0,007, p<0,01), peer competition (sig 0,005, p<0,01), and loneliness (sig 0,024, p<0,05). In conclusion, peer competition, loneliness and inability to do self-adjustment are the stress predictors. The life stress with its many conflicts also influence the level of the stress. Consultation service is required to help managing and alleviating the stress such as in the forms of campus orientation program, physical or extracurricular activities, peer, family and institutional supports, creating healthy competitions, increase readiness towards changes, and stress management.

Keywords: stress, stressor, life stress, female medical students.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-27-13

Publication date:September 30^th 2020