Medical students are often subjected to high levels of psychological stress due to the demanding nature of their training, which includes rigorous coursework, clinical practice, and emotional challenges. This study aims to explore the psychological stress experienced by medical students and examine the coping strategies they employ to manage stress. A comprehensive survey was conducted with medical students from various years, assessing their stress levels, sources of stress, and the coping mechanisms they use to manage these challenges. The study identifies key stressors, including academic pressure, long working hours, and the emotional toll of patient care, and explores a range of coping strategies such as problem-solving, emotional regulation, social support, and avoidance. The findings suggest that while many students utilize adaptive coping strategies, a significant number rely on maladaptive methods, such as avoidance or substance use, which can negatively impact their mental health and academic performance. Based on the results, the study recommends targeted mental health interventions and support systems to help medical students develop healthier coping mechanisms, improve resilience, and reduce the risk of burnout.

Psychological Stress, Coping Mechanisms, Medical Students

Leo Goldberger and Shlomo Breznitz. Handbook of stress: Theoretical and Clinical aspects. Free press 1982;987

Hans Selye. The stresses of life, New York, MC Graw Hill 1956;1523-1567

Selye. Confusion and controversy in the stress field. Journal of Human Stress 1975; 1: 37–44

Firth-Cozens J. Stress in medical undergraduates and house officers. Br J Hosp Med 1989; 41:161-4

Aktekin M, Karaman T, Senol YY, Erdem S, Erengin H, Akaydin M. Anxiety, depression and stressful life events among medical students: a prospective study in Antalya, Turkey. Med Educ 2001; 35:12-7

Dyrbye LN, Thomas MR, Huntington JL, Lawson KL, Novotny PJ, Sloan JA, Shanafelt TD. Personal life events and medical student burnout: a multicenter study. Acad Med 2006; 81:374-84

Tyssen R, Vaglum P, Gronvold NT, Ekeberg O. Factors in medical school that predict postgraduate mental health problems in need of treatment. A nationwide and longitudinal study. Med Educ 2001; 35: 110-20.

Shaikh BT, Kahloon A, Kazim M, Khalid H, Nawaz K, Khan N, et al. Students, stress and coping strategies: a case of Pakistani medical school. Educ Health (Abingdon) 2004; 17: 346-53

Helmers KF, Danoff D, Steinert Y, Leyton M, Young SN. Stress and depressed mood in medical students, law students, and graduate students at McGill University. Acad Med 1997; 72:708-14

Dyrbye LN, Thomas MR, Eacker A, Harper W, Massie FS Jr, Power DV, et al. Race, ethnicity, and medical student well-being in the United States. Arch Intern Med 2007; 167: 2103-9