A preliminary study of perceived stress among dental undergraduate students in rural Haryana

Aim: To assess perceived stress in the undergraduate students studying in  a dental college in rural Haryana. Methods: The present cross sectional study was carried out at Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Dental Sciences And Research (MMIDSR), Mullana in the month of July 2011  using self-administered questionnaire. Perceived stress score was measured using perceived stress scale. Responses of 282 students were included in the study. Results: Out of a total of 282 respondents, 159 (56.4%) were male while 123 (43.4%) were female. The mean age of study subjects was 20.12 with a standard deviation of 1.687. The mean perceived stress score of all 282 students was 27.17 (S.D=5.44) with median of 27  (IQR=23-31). Female students had more perceived stress score (28.33) than male students (26.01). The maximum mean perceived stress score (28.50) was observed in 2nd year and least mean perceived stress score (26.48) was found in 3rd year students. Conclusions: The present study indicates of high levels of psychological disturbance in these dental students in the middle phase of the course. Hence there is a need to take measures by the authorities to reduce stress among students.