Abstract

ABSTRACT
This is a cross-sectional study carried out to study stress and the coping strategies among medical students of the
University of Basrah for the year 2005. The study involved 300 students (50 students from each class) selected
randomly. Special question form was designed for the purpose of the study; it included sociodemograhic criteria, like
age, sex, residence and class, academic factors, delay years and coping strategies. The study found that 44.6% of the
medical students perceived stress, and the highest prevalence was among the first year followed by the third then the
fifth year medical students, with significantly higher rates among females than males, among those originally from
other governorates and among those having delay years. The major reported cause of stress was academic factors and
the current political and security reasons. The response or coping strategies vary between individuals. The study
recommended that consideration should be given to program developers and health decision makers to focus on
significant actions to reduce the academic stress perceived by medical students. Psychological consultations have to be
in each medical school trying to help the students to face their individual stressors in a healthy way and to increase
the emotional and financial support for the students specially those from other governorates.