Correlation of Spiritual Health with Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced by Undergraduate Medical Students in a Private Medical College in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Health was classically defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as physical, mental, and social well-being; however, a fourth dimension called spiritual health has gained recognition since the 1984 World Health Assembly. Studies have shown that medical students face multiple stressors, and coping is the mechanism through which individuals respond to stress. Despite this, less attention has been given to the role of spiritual health and its correlation with coping strategies. Aim: The present study aimed to determine the proportion of medical undergraduate students with spiritual health and Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE), and to assess the correlation between various domains of spiritual health and different coping strategies. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among 540 MBBS students at Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India, between November 2024 and January 2025. Participants were selected using a combination of proportional probability sampling and simple random sampling. Data were collected using the Spiritual Health Assessment Scale (SHAS) and the Brief COPE scale. Statistical analysis was performed using independent t-test, chi-square test, and Pearson correlation coefficient was employed to analyse the data. Results: Out of 540 participants, 300 (55.6%) had good spiritual health and 293 (54.3%) demonstrated good coping skills. Male students showed significantly higher mean spiritual health scores (p=0.018). A statistically significant association was found between the father's education and the spiritual health of students (p<0.001). A significant positive correlation (r=0.224, p<0.01) was observed between spiritual health and coping strategies. Conclusion: Over half of the undergraduate medical students demonstrated good spiritual health and coping abilities. The findings highlight a positive correlation between spiritual health and coping orientation. Academic institutions should promote interventions that enhance spiritual well-being, which may help students manage stress more effectively.