PREVALENCE OF ACADEMIC STRESS AND COPING UP STRATEGIES IN STUDENTS PURSUING UNDERGRADUATE HEALTH SCIENCE PROGRAM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v29i1.829Keywords:
Prevalence, Stress, coping strategies, health sciences students, medical students, Gender differences, Academic performanceAbstract
BACKGROUND: Stress, a state of worry or mental tension, significantly impacts our overall well-being. Undergraduate health science students experience higher rates of sadness and anxiety due to the numerous stress triggers. As they mature, they undergo emotional, behavioral, sexual, economic, academic, and social changes, making crucial life decisions Thus, aim was to evaluate prevalence of academic stress and coping up strategies in students pursuing undergraduate health sciences program.
METHODOLOGY: This is cross sectional study that includes undergraduate health sciences students studying in Sumandeep Vidyapeeth deemed to be university. Stress was assessed using Academic Stress Inventory and coping strategies were analyzed using Stress Coping Style Inventory. 454 data were collected from November 2023 to September 2024.
RESULTS: Out of 454 majority of the subjects more than half i.e. 69% were females and remaining 31% were males. After analysis it was found that 75% had moderate stress, 23% had high stress, only 2% had low stress. 33% subjects had good stress coping up ability, 66% had fair coping ability and 1% had poor strategies.
CONCLUSION: Most individuals experience moderate stress; a substantial number lack optimal coping strategies. There is need for interventions focused on improving stress management skills and coping mechanisms, particularly for those facing higher levels of stress.
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