Psychological stress in students from undergraduate courses in health professions

contribution to promote mental health

Abstract

This study aimed at detecting the presence of psychological stress and associated symptoms among students of different undergraduate courses in the health area of the same public institution. This was a cross-sectional study carried out with a structured questionnaire and a psychometric inventory. Participants included 102 students from Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Medicine, Nutrition and Occupational Therapy courses, distributed by course at their various stages (initial, intermediate and final) in proportion to the number of students enrolled. All participants answered a questionnaire of social and demographic characterization and underwent a validated instrument for detection of stress and its symptoms in adults. Statistical analysis of the differences between the proportions of students with and without stress was carried out using Fisher’s test (p≤0.05). Among the 102 students, the presence of stress was detected in 71 (70%), ranging from 61% (Physiotherapy) to 88% (Occupational Therapy). There were no statistically significant differences between courses. There were also no differences between the different stages of the courses, which varied between 23% (beginning and intermediate) and 26% (final). There was no statistically significant difference between the proportions of women (75%) and men (63%) with stress. Among the students with stress, 57 (80%) presented psychological symptoms, 11 (15%) had physical symptoms and 11 (15%) showed physical and psychological symptoms concomitantly. We conclude that relatively high proportions of the students at the various stages of different undergraduate courses in the health area of the same public institution present stress, and this is often associated with psychological and physical symptoms. Data indicate that in the health sciences area, the presence of stress is independent of the nature of the course. These findings reinforce the need to increase knowledge about this phenomenon, which will allow more adequate planning and greater effectiveness of institutional measures for mental health promotion.