Die effek van biografiese veranderlikes op die vlakke en oorsake van stres by ‘n groep finalejaar mediese studente. The effect of biographic variables on the levels of stress in final year medical students.

Abstract

The effect of biographic variables on the levels of stress in final year medical students Background South Africans experience very high levels of stress. One way to address this problem is to identify risk groups and to handle their stress in a proactive way. This can only be done by identifying the level and causes of stress and to determine if the scores of subgroups (for instance sex, age, home language and marital status), differ significantly from each other. This will make it possible to suggest and implement coping mechanisms. Method A self-evaluation questionnaire (the Experience of Work and Life Circumstances Questionnaire) was tested on an accidental sample of 85 sixth-year medical students studying at a large university in the central region of South Africa. The effect of biographical data on the students’ levels and causes of stress was determined by one-way variance analysis in order to test if group averages differed significantly. Results Significant differences were found between male and female students with regard to physical working conditions and job equipment, career issues and fringe benefits/remuneration. A number of recommendations were made in the light of these findings. (SA Fam Pract 2004;46(4): 26-29)