A Comparison of The Stress Levels Between Athlete and Non-Athlete First Year Medical Students of De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute S.Y. 2018-2019

Abstract Medical students are predisposed to a high level of stress since the medical profession involves the lives and well-being of the people and is inherently demanding and stressful. To prevent this, specific means of reducing stress is necessary. Physical activities, such as sports, are acknowledged to have stress-reducing properties because of the increased released of endorphins, also known as the happy hormone. In relation, this study was conducted to compare the stress levels of the athlete and non-athlete first year medical students of De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute (DLSMHSI). From first year medical students who are eligible to participate in the study, a total of 129 respondents, consisting of 86 non-athletes and 43 athletes, were chosen though a stratified random sampling. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), which utilizes metabolic equivalents (MET) in determining the level of physical activity, was used as a basis in classifying the first year students as an athlete or non-athlete (9). Moreover, Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14) was used to determine the stress level of the respondents. In addition, the demographic profile of the respondents (i.e. age, sex, place of residence, religion, nationality) will also be recorded in the study as they can be considered confounders in the study. Utilizing Whitney-U Test, Pearson Correlation, and Linear Regression, it was found that athlete first year medical students have lower stress levels compared to non- athletes. Hence, it was concluded that physical activity like sports has a protective property against stress.