PATTERN OF PERCEIVED STRESS IN SAUDI UNDERGRADUATES IN UMM AL-QURA UNIVERSITY HEALTHCARE SCHOOLS

Abstract

In view of a variety of reports emphasizing the role of stress in health and disease, it was planned to determine the perceived stress in Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) undergraduate students of healthcare schools (Faculty of Pharmacy, and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences). Methods: Perceived stress scale (PSS-14) was used to assess the  perceived stress responses as  Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, and Always assigned with scores respectively as  0, 1, 2, 3 and 4. The operational cut off values demarcated the stressed from unstressed subjects. Descriptive statistical procedures and Games-Howell post-hoc test were used for analyzing the PSS responses. Results: The PSS responses showed Mean±SD score values as 24.56±6.98, SEM as 0.62 and range value of 7–46 (Median=25). Score values of 23.53–25.59, 23.33 25.79, and 22.93–26.18 respectively were 90%, 95%, and 99% CI. Ratio between unstressed and stressed subjects was 2.6:1.0, and Games-Howell post-hoc test showed highly significant results among several groups. Conclusion: Undergraduate students from UQU healthcare schools showing mean score value of stress less than the cut off upper value verifies productivity in academic and other activities that is helpful for the students  to cope and manage the stress conditions.