Stress and Coping Strategies among Medical Students in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2020: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract: Studies across the world, have revealed elevated levels of stress among medical students. The rate of significant stress is 55% higher among healthcare professionals in comparison to the general population. This level of stress may lead to higher rates of burnout, depression, and functional impairment. This study aims to investigate the stress levels among medical students in Dubai and also to assess their coping strategies. The total number of participants in this study was 97. Rates of high stress levels as per the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was found to be higher among year 1 to year 3 medical students (43.6%), in comparison to year 4 and year 5 medical students (7.7%). The Brief-COPE inventory was used in this study and found that among medical students the mean score for a Problem Focused coping style was 22 out of 32 (medium to high range). Future research that evaluates a more comprehensive investigation into the psychological impact of stress and also exploration of effective strategies to enhance coping with stress is highly warranted.