Perceived stress and stressors among first-year undergraduate studentsat a private medical school in Nigeria

Fasoro, Ayodeji A. and Oluwadare, Tunrayo and Ojo, Tolulope F. and Oni, Ignatius O. Perceived stress and stressors among first-year undergraduate studentsat a private medical school in Nigeria. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences.

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Abstract

Objectives:Medical training has long been globally rec-ognised as involving numerous stressors that can affectthe well-being of students. This study, the first to beconducted among first-year medical students at a privateuniversity in Nigeria, aims to identify factors associatedwith students’ perceived stress.Methods:An analytical cross-sectional design wasemployed. A semi-structured pretested and validatedquestionnaire was administered to first-year medicalstudents. The data were analysed using IBM SPSSversion 25.0. Descriptive and analytical statistics werepresented as frequencies, percentages, means, andstandard deviations. The chi-square test was also usedto identify the associations between categoricalvariables.Results:The majority of the respondents were females(72.2%) and Christians (85.8%). Sixty seven percent ofthe participants perceived medical school as beingstressful. More females than males were stressed. Statis-tically, ethnicity and intrapersonal factors were correlatedwith perceived stress.Conclusion:In this study, the prevalence of perceivedstress among first-year medical undergraduate studentswas high. Students should be prepared on how to copewith stress by developing coping strategies such ashealthy lifestyle patterns, availing of social support,engaging in physical activity, and seeking counsellingwhen needed

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