Effect of gender on six domains of stress in Medical students

Background: Medical students are considered to be under more stress than the general population. Stress affects an individual both physiologically and psychologically. Stress is not an objective phenomenon but a subjective phenomenon. Hence, a self-reporting and self-evaluating questionnaire to assess the stress would be an ideal tool to quantify the stress. The Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) is valid in measuring the stress in medical students. MSSQ categorizes stressors into 6 domains: Academic Related Stressors (ARS), Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Related Stressors (IRS), Teaching and Learning Related Stressors (TLRS), Social Related Stressors (SRS), Drive and Desire Related Stressors (DRS), Group Activities Related Stressors (GARS). Objective: To quantify the stressors distinctively under the six domains in the medical students and to elucidate the sex difference in the intensity of stress experienced. Materials and methods: The level of stress was assessed using the Medical Student Stress Questionnaire under six domains; academic related stressors (ARS), intrapersonal and interpersonal related stressors (IRS), teachingand learning-related stressors (TLRS), social related stressors (SRS), drive and desirerelated stressors (DRS), and group activities related stressors (GARS). Results: Academic stress and teaching learning stress are the two highest stress in the medical students irrespective of sex. Stress of other domains such as intra/inter personal stress, social activity stress, group activity stress and drive and desire stress has also to be addressed in medical students. The level of stress is more in female students than male students in terms of academic stress, intra/interpersonal stress and teaching and learning activity stress. Conclusion: More than 97% of medical students are under some kind of stress and the proper action has to be taken to address the issue.