UNDERSTANDING STRESS AND COPING MECHANISMS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS: EVIDENCE FROM FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN

Stress is a physiological or mental reactions that are produced by the physiological or physical stimulus which may lead to weakness or illness. Academic pressure is an important cause of mental health problems in adolescents both in Asian as well as Western countries. Performance in studies also affects due to stress which may lead to dropout from the institute. However, there is no such a study conducted in Faisalabad to conceal the extent of stress and its effects among medical students. It is planned to identify perceived effects of stress on personality and academic performance of medical students in Faisalabad so that timely guidance could be suggested to these students. Faisalabad was selected as study area. There are three medical colleges inFaisalabad, Faisalabad Medical University, Aziz Fatima Medical and Dental College and Independent Medical College Faisalabad. Faisalabad Medical University was selected purposively because it is the largest medical university in city. Target population was 1st year students of Faisalabad Medical University. There are 315enrolled 1st year students in the Faisalabad Medical University. A sample size of 121 was drawn by using online software www.surveysystem.com with confidence interval 7% and confidence level 93%. Keeping in view the study objectives, a comprehensive interview schedule was prepared and used as research instrument for data collection. The data was collected through telephonic interviews and through Google forms because of COVID-19. Descriptive statistics such as percentage, frequency, mean, standard deviation of the collected data was calculated by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings of study showed that majority of the students had some degree of stress. Stress can lead to under performance, depression or anxiety. The study showed the sources of stress that were found to be common for both the male and the female students were large amount of content, lack of time for revision, exams, busy academic schedule, feeling of competence, conflict with teachers and fellows, lack of guidance, parents’ income and better future. Next important factor contributing to stress was the social factor. If the atmosphere is not conducive to study students will be unable to study which will increase their stress level. Inadequate financial requirement adversely affects the students. They may be unable to buy required textbooks or pay their fees on time. This can lead to vicious cycle of increase in stress levels and decrease in academic performance. Thus, stress negatively influences the academic performance of the medical students.