Stress among undergraduate medical students at Addis Ababa university Prevalence, cause and coping mechanisms
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Date
2025-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess Stress among undergraduate medical students at Addis Ababa university Prevalence, cause and coping mechanisms. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. Among 875(year 1 to 6) medical students in the College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine Using Cochran formula 323 sample size was determined and stratified random sampling technique was used. Quantitative data was collected through a structured self-administered questionnaire that incorporated the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ-20), and Brief COPE Scale. Data was analyzed using descriptive and binary logistic regression with software SPSS version 26. The findings revealed that 32.8% of respondents experienced high perceived stress. Academic-related stressors were the strongest predictors of stress (AOR = 2.505, p = 0.005). Maladaptive coping strategies, particularly self-blame (AOR = 1.283, p = 0.034), increased stress, whereas adaptive coping strategies such as seeking informational support (AOR = 0.736, p = 0.039) and acceptance (AOR = 0.799, p = 0.044) reduced it. The study concludes that academic pressure and maladaptive coping mechanisms significantly contribute to stress among medical students, underscoring the need for interventions to strengthen adaptive coping and promote mental well-being.
Keywords: Stress, Coping Mechanisms, Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study, Medical Students, Addis Ababa University
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Keywords
Stress, Coping Mechanisms, Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study, Medical Students, Addis Ababa University