1Assistant Professor, Dept of Physiology, Divya Jyoti Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Modinagar
2Associate Professor, Dept of Physiology, Divya Jyoti Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Modinagar
3Prof and HOD, Dept of Physiology
4Prof and HOD, Dept of Psychiatry, Santosh Medical College, GZB
5Professor, Dept of Physiology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
Online published on 2 August, 2016.
Stress is known to alter physical and mental well being of exposed individual. The process by which stressful stimuli influence disease is multifactorial, interactive and individualistic.
In the present study 40 first year medical students (20 males and 20 females) were recruited. Their personality dimensions and stress level were assessed using EPQ-R and SRCL. Baseline heart rate, blood pressure and blood pressure response to Hand grip Dynamometer was taken as a parameter to assess cardiovascular reactivity.
The study showed that overall stress score in female medical students was significantly raised (23.100±10.93) as compared to males (17.00±7.08) during first year professional examination. The pulse rate showed a significant rise from the control value of 82.3 to 87.3 beats/min. Similarly a significant rise in diastolic blood pressures from mean values of 75.6 mm Hg to 79.95 mm Hg was observed. In hand grip dynamometer test both male and female showed a borderline response during stress period. The delta change in Diastolic Blood pressure during examinations was statistically significant when compared to non stress period.
Medical students experience significant amount of stress during examinations. Female students experience more stress as compared to male students and their cardiovascular homeostasis is impaired with sympathetic predominance and vagal withdrawal.
Examination stress, heart rate, blood pressure, Handgrip Dynamometer, EPQ-R-Eyesnck's personality questionnaire, SRCL-Stress reaction check list
