Causes of Stress and Coping Strategies Adopted by Undergraduate Health Professions Students in a University in the United Arab Emirates
Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2013, Vol 13, Issue 3
Abstract
Objectives: Tis study aimed to compare causes of stress and coping strategies adopted by a sample of undergraduate health-profession students at the Gulf Medical University, United Arab Emirates. Methods: An anonymous voluntary questionnaire-based survey was conducted, from January to July 2011, among frst- and second-year medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and physiotherapy students (N = 212) to identify causes of stress. Coping strategies were studied using the Brief COPE Inventory. Results: Worries regarding the future (54.2%) and parental expectations (40.1%) were the major stressors. Poor diet (36.8%) and a lack of exercise (36.3%) were also reported to cause stress. Students used multiple strategies, mainly religion/praying (74.5%), planning (70.5%) and taking action (70.5%) to cope with stress. Tere were no signifcant differences observed in the stressors or coping strategies between genders or programmes. First-year students (62.5%) relied on emotional support signifcantly more (P <0.05) than second-year students (48.5%). Conclusion: Te main causes of stress were worries regarding future and parental expectations. Te majority of the students used positive coping strategies, with religion/ praying found to be the most frequently used strategy.
Authors and Affiliations
Kadayam G. Gomathi| Department of Biochemistry, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Soofa Ahmed| Department of Biochemistry, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Jayadevan Sreedharan| Department of Biochemistry, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
Keywords
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