Psychological stress Assessment among dental students: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background:

 Dental student faces stress from various sources included academic and socio cultural factors.  Research studies have shown that dental students are experiencing mental stress and it has a significant impact on their overall health. Dental students have reported negative effect of stress beginning in undergraduate studies period. The various predisposing factors have been identified and determined. The aim of our study was to determine and compare stress among dentists of different year students, from First year till post graduation.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study took place from 2023 to March 2024, involving 114 dental students in total. The data is collected from five dental colleges in India and seven dental colleges in Iran. It includes first year students, second year students, third year students, final year students, internship students and post graduate students. Stress levels were assessed through a questionnaire administered via Google Forms to ensure anonymity and privacy. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Version 26.

 Results:

In the participant pool, female students constituted 69 in number with 60.52%, 45 males with 39.47%, all of them experienced psychological stress. 48.94% students ignore their diet in their routine life. Students getting anger very easily are 52.42%.  35.56% students have set unrealistic goals in their life. 51.17% students experienced not to find the humor in situations others find funny. Only 54.08 % students get irritated very easily. Majority of the students click yes in the box showing 51.31% students neglect their emotions. 60.21% students have selected that they are neglecting exercise. The individuals with no supportive relationship are 70.45%. 41.43% participants are not taking proper sleep due to their lifestyle. 76.19% subjects do not like to wait in their life. Only 49.07% subjects ignore the sign of stress they are bearing. 34.28% participants often think there is not only one right way to do something. Most of the subjects do not live in past, only 38.43% are still thinking about their past experiences. 56.68% participant’s think they race through the day. 47.57% students feel unable to cope with all you have done in their life.

 Conclusion:

 Stress is more experienced by third year undergraduates Overall stress levels, predominantly slight to moderate, were notably less in final year students.