STRESS RELATED PSYCHOSOMATIC AILMENTS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

This cross-sectional survey assessed stress-related psychosomatic ailments among undergraduate medical and dental students at Rahbar Medical and Dental College, Lahore, over six months (15 Nov 2024–24 May 2025). A structured, self-administered questionnaire captured demographics, perceived academic stress, frequency of psychosomatic symptoms (e.g., headaches, sleep disturbances, fatigue, gastrointestinal discomfort, palpitations), and coping strategies; data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests/chi-square tests, and Pearson’s correlation. Of 220 respondents, 209 complete responses were analyzed (68.9% female; 82.3% first-year; 95.2% medicine). High academic stress and common psychosomatic complaints were reported, with first-year students showing significantly greater exam-related stress, role-balance difficulty, fatigue, and appetite changes than third-years; females reported higher overwhelm and exam stress than males. Headaches (p=0.018), fatigue (p=0.018), and appetite changes (p=0.004) were more frequent in first-years. First-years also reported greater use of adaptive coping (exercise, social support, time management). Despite these patterns, overall stress showed only a very weak, non-significant correlation with total symptom count (r=0.081, p=0.243). Findings underscore a substantial early-training psychosomatic burden—especially among female students—and support targeted institutional interventions, including stress-management, mindfulness, and structured support services, to bolster student well-being.