INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANATOMY PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

7-16

Authors: DR. WAGHMARE RUPALI V. DR. WAGHMARE VIJAY KUMAR R. DR. GAIKWAD NANDKISHOR

Stress is simply strains or tensions physical, mental, or emotional on a person. Stress which promotes and facilitates learning is called ‘favorable stress’ and stress which inhibits and suppresses learning is called ‘unfavorable stress’. Unfavorable stress was also associated with inhibition of student’s academic achievement and personal growth development. As a result, medical students may feel inadequate and unsatisfied with their career as a medical practitioner in the future. Objectives of the present study are to determine the prevalence of stress in first year medical students, explore the sources of stress and find out is there any association between gender and presence of stress. Sample size was 144, 77 male and 67 female students. Data collection spanned over the month of November 2013. The students were assured about anonymity and confidentiality of the responses given in the questionnaire and instructed to return the completed questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised of demographic data, the 10-item Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scaled (PSS-10) a 26-item list of Medical student’s Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ). Data were entered in excel worksheets and analyzed using the EPI 7. Study has found that majority of first year MBBS medical students experience stress. Major stressors are academic and physical factors. Proper guidance & counseling by faculties, mental health workshop programmers, provision of recreation facilities, yoga, meditation by students, some changes in curriculum by university, infrastructure changes by higher authority may help to improve the present scenario. Key words: stress, academic burden, favorable stress, unfavorable stress