ASSESSING STRESS COPING METHODS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN DISTRICT PESHAWAR PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Stress coping methods are used by the individuals to overcome daily stresses. It is important to maintain stress within limits for normal functioning and productivity of a human being. Medical students come across many stress factors during their medical training. Stress coping is divided into Adaptive and Non-adaptive coping, students using adaptive coping strategies (ACS) are considered to have positive coping methods and results in long term constructive outcomes i.e. improved self-esteem, stronger social bonds and wisdom, while students using non-adaptive coping strategies are at risk of mental health issues. Our objective was to evaluate stress coping methods among medical students of public and private medical colleges of district Peshawar.
Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data was collected using convenient sampling technique from 200 medical students of both Public and private sector of district Peshawar. Equal numbers of boys and girls were selected from age groups of 18-25 years. Demographic variable along with methods to cope stress were collected using validated pre-tested questionnaire called "Brief cope scale (BCS) of Urdu version by Akhtar (2005)". Standard cut off value of 56 was used to differentiate between students having adaptive or mal-adaptive coping styles. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS.
Results: Students of public medical college scored M=71.78 with SD=8.955 while students of private medical colleges scored M=69.20 with SD 10.07.
Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that undergraduate students in medical collages have non-adaptive coping methods rather than adaptive ones. Female students used more adaptive coping skills than male students. Students in public sector had better coping skills than students of private medical colleges.