Inverse Correlation between Stress and Adaptive Coping in Medical Students

Zafar Rasheed; Ali Shariq; Abdulmonem Alsalhi; Saleh Almesned; Saud Alhussain; Ahmed Alshammari; Mazen Almatrudi; Saif Alshammari; Sulaiman Alkhuzayyim; Abdullah Alkhamiss; Muslet H. Alharbi; Waleed Al Abdulmonem

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2020.5115

Authors

Zafar Rasheed Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
Ali Shariq Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
Abdulmonem Alsalhi Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
Saleh Almesned Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
Saud Alhussain Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Alshammari Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
Mazen Almatrudi Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
Saif Alshammari Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
Sulaiman Alkhuzayyim Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Alkhamiss Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
Muslet H. Alharbi Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
Waleed Al Abdulmonem Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2020.5115

Keywords:

Academic years, Adaptive coping, Medical students, Stress

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Medical students in their academic years are generally under stress but very few studies revealed the relationship between the stress and how the students manage to adapt these stressful conditions.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the levels of stress and their adaptive coping in the 1st 3 years medical students and also to determine the factors associated with adaptive coping strategies.

METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 441 medical students of Qassim University from September-October 2019. First 3 years medical students were randomly selected and their stress levels or adaptive coping strategies were determined by general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) and strategies coping mechanisms (SCM), respectively. The 5-points Likert scale was used for scoring and the data obtained were further validated by DASS and Brief COPE scales.

RESULTS: Out of 441 medical students, 39.2% agreed to participate. The data showed that the level of stress among students was highest during their 1st year academic blocks, followed by 2nd and 3rd year students. Interesting, the adaptive coping among them was found highest during the academic blocks of 3rd year students, followed by the 2nd and 1st year students. Importantly, female students showed better adaptation against stress. Students living with their parents avoided stress in better ways as compared to those who were living alone.

CONCLUSION: This is the first study that shows an inverse correlation between the stress and adaptive coping in medical students of Qassim University. The data concluded that adaptation of stress in the 3rd-year students was the highest followed by 2nd and 1st year medical students. Moreover, female students adapted well against stress and students living alone showed worse adaptation of stress.

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