PERCEIVED STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES IN DENTAL STUDENTS DURING CLINICAL TRAINING: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Dental students undergoing clinical training face a unique set of academic and psychological challenges that can significantly affect their mental well-being and performance. Stress in this phase is often high, and the coping strategies employed play a crucial role in managing its impact. Objective: To determine the levels of psychological stress and the coping mechanisms commonly adopted by dental students during their clinical training in dental colleges of Lahore. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over eight months in various public and private dental institutions in Lahore. A total of 250 third- and fourth-year dental students participated. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Brief COPE inventory were used to assess stress levels and coping strategies, respectively. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 26. Ethical approval was obtained and informed consent was secured. Results: Moderate stress was reported by 56.8% of students, and high stress by 32.0%. Active coping (mean score 5.8 ± 1.2), planning (5.5 ± 1.1), and acceptance (5.2 ± 1.3) were the most commonly used coping strategies. Maladaptive strategies such as denial and substance use were less frequent but positively correlated with higher stress levels. Active coping and planning were significantly associated with lower perceived stress (p < 0.01), while avoidance and substance use showed significant positive correlations (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A high prevalence of psychological stress exists among dental students during clinical training. While many adopt effective coping mechanisms, the use of maladaptive strategies in some cases underscores the need for institutional support systems to promote mental health and resilience.