Signs and sources of stress among students of medical sciences

Introduction: Entrance in to the University could be accompanied by various stressors which affect students' functional activity and leads to lots of mental problems and academic failure. The present study aimed to identify the signs and sources of stress among students. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 302 nursing, operating room, anesthesia and medical students at Jahrom University of Medical Sciences selected through purposive sampling. The study data were gathered using two researcher-made questionnaires. The content validity and reliability of the questionnaires was confirmed. The data were entered into the SPSS statistical software (version 16) and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test and dun-can test. Results and Conclusion: The total mean score of stress signs was 13.30 (±8.5). This measure was obtained as 17.40 in the students above 25 years old, 13.43 in those between 20 and 25 years old and 22.93 in the students below 20 years old; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Female students reported higher signs of stress than did male ones. Also, foreign students reported higher signs of stress than did natives. Besides, the students who paid for education had higher signs of stress compared to those who were educated for free. However, these differences were not statistically significant. The mean score of signs of mental stress was higher than that of physical and social stress. In the physical dimension, palpitation and restlessness; in the social dimension, “not involving in group discussions” and in mental dimension, “inability to be open with others” and “to forgive people” were the most prevalent signs.