EFFECT OF ACADEMIC EXAMINATION STRESS ON HAND GRIP STRENGTH AMONG FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v29i1.834Keywords:
Examination stress, MVC, Handgrip dynamometer, Medical students, PSSAbstract
: Examination stress is a predictable and recurrent stressor in medical education. While psychological consequences are well documented, its physiological effects on skeletal muscle function remain underexplored.
Objective: To assess the effect of examination stress on skeletal muscle function among first-year medical students using handgrip dynamometer.
Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 first-year MBBS students (18–23 years). Measurements were taken during pre-examination (stressed) and post-examination (relaxed) phases. Stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC) and endurance time were recorded using hand grip dynamometer. Paired t-test/Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for comparison.
Results: PSS scores were significantly higher during the pre-examination phase (p < 0.001). MVC and endurance time were significantly reduced during the stressed state compared to the relaxed state (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Examination stress significantly reduces skeletal muscle strength and endurance. Early stress-management interventions may improve both psychological and physiological well-being among medical students.
References
Barre, S., Nowak, Z., & Kowalczyk, A. (2024). Handgrip strength as an indicator of stress and lifestyle factors among medical students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(3), 1456–1468. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/ijerph21031456
Cannon, W. B. (1932). The wisdom of the body. W. W. Norton & Company.
Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385–396. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136404
Kitiş, A., Büker, N., Ünal, A., & Karahan, A. Y. (2017). Effects of musculoskeletal system problems on quality of life and depression in students preparing for university entrance exams. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 30(5), 1105–1111. https://doi.org/10.3233/BMR-169640
Kumar, S. D., Kavitha, H. S., Kulkarni, P., & Siddalingappa, H. (2016). Depression, anxiety and stress levels among medical students in Mysore, India. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 3(1), 359–362. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/ijcmph2016
Mantur, V. S., Patil, R. S., & Patil, S. S. (2022). Effect of examination stress on skeletal muscle strength and fatigue among medical students. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 12(4), 555–560. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/njppp2022
Paz-Cortés, M. M., Sánchez-Rodríguez, E., & Fernández-Rodríguez, R. (2024). Academic stress and its impact on temporomandibular joint function, muscle oxygenation and cortisol levels in physiotherapy students. Healthcare, 12(2), 345–357. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/healthcare12020345
Poornima, K. N., Rajeswari, R., & Manjunath, M. L. (2014). Effect of stress on skeletal muscle function in elderly individuals. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 58(2), 145–150.
Ren, Z., Zhang, Q., & Yang, F. (2020). Association between handgrip strength and depressive symptoms among Chinese female college freshmen. BMC Psychiatry, 20, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02513-6
Selye, H. (1956). The stress of life. McGraw-Hill.
McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: Central role of the brain. Physiological Reviews, 87(3), 873–904. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00041.2006
McEwen, B. S., & Wingfield, J. C. (2010). What is in a name? Integrating homeostasis, allostasis and stress. Hormones and Behavior, 57(2), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.09.011
Sapolsky, R. M. (2004). Why zebras don’t get ulcers (3rd ed.). Henry Holt and Company.
Guyton, A. C., & Hall, J. E. (2021). Textbook of medical physiology (14th ed.). Elsevier.
Silverthorn, D. U. (2019). Human physiology: An integrated approach (8th ed.). Pearson.
American College of Sports Medicine. (2021). ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Dyrbye, L. N., Thomas, M. R., & Shanafelt, T. D. (2006). Systematic review of depression, anxiety, and other indicators of psychological distress among U.S. and Canadian medical students. Academic Medicine, 81(4), 354–373. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001888-200604000-00009
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License permitting all use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
This work is licensed under a 
