Assessment of stress among medical students visiting a tertiary care hospital of central Kerala, India

Introduction: Stress among undergraduate students has become a significant concern in higher education due to its detrimental effects on their health and academic performance. By exploring the association between various sociodemographic variables and stress levels, valuable insights into the factors contributing to stress among undergraduate students can be provided.Objectives: To determine the prevalence of stress and its associated factors among medical students in a tertiary care hospitalMethods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 133 undergraduate students selected utilising convenience sampling. A pre-designed close-ended questionnaire, specifically tailored for this study, was employed to collect data related to stress experienced by undergraduate students. Appropriate statistical analyses were performed with significance level set at p < 0.05.Results: The study revealed that 19% of the undergraduate students experienced high perceived stress, 67% experienced moderate stress and 13% experienced low stress levels. A significant association was observed between perceived stress and reduced appetite (p=0.014). Additionally, significant associations were found between stress and poor relationships with faculties (p=0.003); the warden (p=0.01); family members (p=0.003); facing time pressure(p=0.006); heavy workload (p=0.029); fear of failure (p=0.002); suffering from frequent exams (p=0.003); and exam patterns and curriculum (p=0.024).Conclusions & Recommendations: Results highlight considerable prevalence of stress among undergraduate students, with the majority demonstrating moderate stress levels. It is imperative to prioritise undergraduate students' mental and physical wellbeing by incorporating counselling services and preventive mental health programs as integral components of routine clinical services, so that educational institutions can foster a supportive learning environment.