Evaluation of Stress and its Associated Stressors Among Undergraduate Dental Students: A Questionnaire-based Study

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the stress and its associated stressors or stress factors among dental undergraduate students.Background: Stress is a subjective feeling that acts as a barrier to preventing his/her goal. Stress occurs in everyone’s life in every aspect of life due to enormous reasons, and so dental students are cited for facing various amounts of stress throughout their academics due to several reasons.Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students (including interns) in a self-financing dental college in Tiruvallur, India. A google survey was conducted to collect data regarding academic sessions, environmental issues, and profiles of socio-demographics.Results: Out of 500 dental undergraduates participating in the study, nearly 332(66%) students are stressed. Nearly two third of students have reported being stressed is a large number. The study has also found that students from the internship are under more stress while studying in college, possibly due to work pressure or fears of their future after graduation.Conclusion: Sociodemographic profile, academic matters (performance of the study, curriculum, and frequency of tests), stress predictors, and physical stressors such as physical problems, high expectations of parents, and family issues are revealed as reasons in this dental curriculum. Management programs in dental colleges should be developed to improve students’ psychological support and promote better psychological health and coping.