A comparative study of perceived stress among female medical and non-medical university students in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Objectives : The objective of this study was to investigate any differences between female undergraduate medical and non-medical students for : 1) prevalence and causes of perceived academic stress, and 2) changes in physical, mental, psychological and emotional health as well as life-style since starting college studies. Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted at Dammam University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, in January 2008. All 319 pre-clinical female medical students were included in the study and 297 non-medical students from the College of Applied Studies and Community Services (CASCS) were selected by stratified random sampling. The study instrument was a questionnaire on the “Influence of Studying on Students’ Health”. Results : More medical students (48.6 %) reported being frequently stressed due to studies than CASCS students (38.7 %, P < 0.01). Unsuitable teaching methods, an unsatisfactory study environment, and fear of failure in examinations were more frequently mentioned by medical than non-medical students (P < 0.05). While underlying social problems were significantly more common in medical students, economic problems were more prevalent among CASCS students (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). More medical than non-medical students reported a worse status of physical and mental health, anxiety and depression and negative life-style changes since initiation of the college programme. Conclusion : Medical students were at higher risk of physical and mental health problems than non-medical students due to academic stress. Since a substantial proportion of CASCS students also experienced academic stress, we recommend that a student support committee be established for both colleges to provide counselling and guidance in healthy ways to cope with stress. الهدف : تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى مقارنة طالبات في كلية الطب مع طالبات من كلية أخرى غير طبية في الجوانب الآتية : .1 مدى انتشار و مسببات الضغوط الجامعية. .2 التغيرات الجسمية و النفسية و الانفعالية و كذلك نمط الحياة لدى الطالبات الجامعيات منذ التحاقهن بالجامعة. الطريقة : هذه دراسة مقطعية أجريت في جامعة الملك فيصل بالدمام (المملكة العربية السعودية) في شهر يناير 2008. شملت الدراسة جميع طالبات الطب في المرحلة ما قبل السريرية (319 طالبة) و تم اختيار (297 طالبة) من كلية الدراسات التطبيقية و خدمة المجتمع من جميع التخصصات و المستويات عن طريق الاختيار العشوائي الطبقي. استخدم في البحث استبيان "تأثير الدراسة على صحة الطلاب". النتائج : بينت الدراسة بأن طالبات كلية الطب يتعرضن لضغوط نفسية أكثر (% 48.6) من طالبات كلية الدارسات