Graduating medical students' ratings of stresses, pleasures, and coping strategies

Abstract

The authors' objective in the study reported here was to gather data on the stress and coping of medical students in order to design a health promotion and wellness program. A retrospective questionnaire was completed by 71 of 157 graduating seniors. Examinations, classwork, and financial responsibilities were considered the three most stressful aspects of medical education. The most uplifting items (that is, pleasant, happy, or satisfying experiences) were recreation and social interaction, although good examination performance was rated second highest. Planful problem-solving (that is, deliberate problem-focused efforts to alter a situation) was the most frequently used form of coping, although four of the eight forms of coping assessed were used at least moderately often and all eight were used to some extent.