Study On The Perceived Stress And Its Influence Factors Of Medical Graduate Students In A University

Objectives:The aim of this investigation was to examine status of perceived stress and its impact factors, expecting to provide some empirical experience for counseling and improving the management level of medical graduate students in the future.Methods:The investigation was conducted randomly among several comprehensive universities’medical colleges in Changsha by a secret-ballot style. The questionnaire used included a12items of the Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ-12), the Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSSC), Trait Coping Strategy Questionnaire (TCSQ), the Chinese version of the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Questionnaire and an adapted General Questionnaire.720questionnaires were delivered and699valid questionnaires were restored, the effective rate of97.08%; the sample consisted of299boys and400girls with an average age of25.63±2.75years old.Results:(1) The top three sources of stress were pressure of employment accounting for44.4%, the academic pressure accounting for36.2%and economic pressure accounting for13%. The rate of mental abnormality was7.1%; the rate of pressure was17.7%; the rates of depression and anxiety and stress detection were27.9%,13.8%and26.8%, respectively.(2) The distribution of graduate students on depression and anxiety subscale scores was within the normal range, but the boys depression scores were significantly higher than that of girls’(p=0.019); Rural group depression scores were significantly higher than that of the urban group (p=0.039). The Minority students scored significantly higher than that of Han students on the anxiety subscale (p=0.037); non-one-child group scored significantly higher than that of the one-child group on the anxiety subscale (p=0.046), as well.(3) non-one-child group’s PSS-C scale scores were significantly higher than that of one-child group (p=0.040) and doctoral graduate students scored higher than that of master students (p=0.017). The group with significant life events scored higher than those without significant life events on the CHQ-12, PSS-C, DASS scales (p=0.007,0.000and0.005), while, the later scored higher than the former major life events on TCSQ-P scale (p=0.012). The scores of different family economic status graduate students were different from each other on the CHQ-12, PSS-C and TCSQ-P scales, and concrete analysis reflecting that the well and normal economic groups scored significantly lower than those of poor status on the CHQ-12and PSS-C scales (p=0.004and0.001; p=0.008and0.011, respectively), but higher on the TCSQ-P (p=0.030and0.015, respectively). The scores of different grades students were significantly different on the PSS-C scale, and further analysis demonstrated that the first-year graduate student group was significantly lower than that of the second-year graduate student (p=0.025). Scores of different perspectives of employment were significantly different from each other excluding on the TCSQ two subscales. The CHQ-12, TCSQ-P, TCSQ-N, DASSC-D, DASSC-A and DASSC-S were correlated with each other (ps=0.000).(4) The CHQ-12, TCSQ-P, TCSQ-N, DASSC-D, DASSC-S, life events and the employment prospects entered the regression equation by using stepwise regression analysis (F=102.76, p=0.000, R2=0.511)Conclusions:The following conclusions can be drawn through this research,(1) The depression, anxiety, stress, and stress levels of medical graduate students are within the normal range, and the percentage of the scores higher than the normal are17.7%,27.9%and26.8%, respectively; and the scores higher than4on the CHQ-12is7.1%.(2) The pressure of graduate students is mainly from employment, learning and researching, and economic conditions et al.(3) The individual’s perceived stress is mainly affected by the adoption of more negative rather positive coping style, higher depression level and stress level, lower general health level, poor employment prospects and experiencing major life events et al.