Perceived stress and sources of stress among first-year medical undergraduate students in a private medical college  Tamil Nadu

Anandhalakshmi Swaminathan; Sahityan Viswanathan; Thilipkumar Gnanadurai; Saravanan Ayyavoo; Thirunavukarasu Manickam

doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.1909201574

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Online Published: 29 Dec 2015

Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2016; 6(1): 9-14

doi: 10.5455/njppp.2015.5.1909201574

Perceived stress and sources of stress among first-year medical undergraduate students in a private medical college Tamil Nadu

Anandhalakshmi Swaminathan, Sahityan Viswanathan, Thilipkumar Gnanadurai, Saravanan Ayyavoo, Thirunavukarasu Manickam.

Cited By:102

Abstract
Background: Medical education throughout the world poses the incoming student with many challenging situations and demands. This forms an ideal environment for the student to be under stress as he/she adapts to these stress-inducing conditions. Factors both psychosocial and otherwise, vary widely between institutions of learning, the demographic studied, the external influences of the environment/country, and the stage of learning of the student, among other factors.

Aims and Objective: To assess the prevalence of stress among first-year medical undergraduate students and to segregate the potential stressors derived from the study.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving the first-year medical students. Prevalence of stress was assessed using Cohens Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), which is an internationally validated 10-item questionnaire. The effect of potential stressors was assessed using a 33-item questionnaire. The stressors were categorized as academic, psychosocial, and health-related.

Result: Of the 147 respondents, the mean PSS score was 21.09 (SD: 4.7). Of them, 105 students (71.4%) reported moderate stress, 16 students (10.9%) had high stress, and 26 students (17.7%) reported low/no stress. The top five stressors were all academic or psychosocial stressors.

Conclusion: The vast majority of students perceived moderate stress and analysis highlighted a greater association with academic factors compounded by psychosocial ones. Preventive mental health measures on the basis of this and further studies into the occurrences of stress in the early academic years of a medical professional, followed by effective management tools and programs could go a long way in counteracting the harmful long-term effects of stress on their careers, producing happier and more productive and efficient medical professionals.

Key words: Perceived stress; undergraduate; students

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How to Cite this Article

Pubmed Style

Swaminathan A, Viswanathan S, Gnanadurai T, Ayyavoo S, Manickam T. Perceived stress and sources of stress among first-year medical undergraduate students in a private medical college Tamil Nadu. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2016; 6(1): 9-14. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.1909201574

Web Style

Swaminathan A, Viswanathan S, Gnanadurai T, Ayyavoo S, Manickam T. Perceived stress and sources of stress among first-year medical undergraduate students in a private medical college Tamil Nadu. https://www.njppp.com/?mno=202109 [Access: November 01, 2025]. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.1909201574

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Swaminathan A, Viswanathan S, Gnanadurai T, Ayyavoo S, Manickam T. Perceived stress and sources of stress among first-year medical undergraduate students in a private medical college Tamil Nadu. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2016; 6(1): 9-14. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.1909201574

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Swaminathan A, Viswanathan S, Gnanadurai T, Ayyavoo S, Manickam T. Perceived stress and sources of stress among first-year medical undergraduate students in a private medical college Tamil Nadu. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. (2016), [cited November 01, 2025]; 6(1): 9-14. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.1909201574

Harvard Style

Swaminathan, A., Viswanathan, . S., Gnanadurai, . T., Ayyavoo, . S. & Manickam, . T. (2016) Perceived stress and sources of stress among first-year medical undergraduate students in a private medical college Tamil Nadu. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol, 6 (1), 9-14. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.1909201574

Turabian Style

Swaminathan, Anandhalakshmi, Sahityan Viswanathan, Thilipkumar Gnanadurai, Saravanan Ayyavoo, and Thirunavukarasu Manickam. 2016. Perceived stress and sources of stress among first-year medical undergraduate students in a private medical college Tamil Nadu. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 6 (1), 9-14. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.1909201574

Chicago Style

Swaminathan, Anandhalakshmi, Sahityan Viswanathan, Thilipkumar Gnanadurai, Saravanan Ayyavoo, and Thirunavukarasu Manickam. "Perceived stress and sources of stress among first-year medical undergraduate students in a private medical college Tamil Nadu." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 6 (2016), 9-14. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.1909201574

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Swaminathan, A., Viswanathan, . S., Gnanadurai, . T., Ayyavoo, . S. & Manickam, . T. (2016) Perceived stress and sources of stress among first-year medical undergraduate students in a private medical college Tamil Nadu. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 6 (1), 9-14. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.1909201574

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