Academic and non-academic life stressors and perceived levels of stress in Brazilian undergraduate health professions students

Large numbers of different non-academic and academic stressors were observed among students across all programs and course stages, without significant differences between them. The nature of the difficulties, however, varied according to the course stage. Non-academic stressors, such as financial difficulties and mental health issues, appear to be associated with higher stress scores. These findings highlight the need for institutional interventions that provide students with financial support, improve the academic educational environment, and help them develop and improve their coping skills and resilience. Such initiatives should consider the specific needs of students at different stages of their academic programs.