Špiljak Bruno, Šimunović Luka, Vilibić Maja, Hanžek Milena, Crnković Danijel, Lugović-Mihić Liborija
School of Dental Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Behav Sci (Basel). 2024 Mar 31;14(4):289. doi: 10.3390/bs14040289.
Academic stress affects students' psychological and physiological well-being. Dental undergraduate programs are known for their demanding curriculum, leading to significant stress symptoms. The objective was to determine if salivary cortisol levels were higher in students exposed to academic stress, assess the relationship between stress severity/temperament and cortisol values, and explore relaxation technique effects. Salivary cortisol was measured at two time points for all participants: Before exams and during a relaxation period after summer break. A third measurement was conducted for students with high pre-test cortisol levels who received instructions on progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) before subsequent exams. Additionally, participants completed two questionnaires: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Fisher's Temperament Questionnaire. The group analysis based on the PSS indicated that 39 participants reported high stress. Women demonstrated significantly higher stress than men ( = 0.042054). A significant difference in stress levels was observed between director and builder temperament types ( = 0.029276). Cortisol levels showed a significant decrease from the first measurement to the second measurement, and the third measurement after implementing PMR. The grade in the "Dermatovenereology" course correlated with stress level according to the PSS (k = 0.578467). Pre-test cortisol levels correlated with the frequency of using PMR guidelines during winter test periods (k = 0.416138). Stress negatively affects the immune system and poses health risks. Implementing stress reduction techniques in dental/medical education could benefit students and the healthcare system.
学业压力会影响学生的心理和生理健康。牙科本科课程以其要求苛刻的课程而闻名,这会导致明显的压力症状。目的是确定暴露于学业压力下的学生唾液皮质醇水平是否更高,评估压力严重程度/气质与皮质醇值之间的关系,并探索放松技巧的效果。在两个时间点对所有参与者测量唾液皮质醇:考试前和暑假后的放松期。对预测试皮质醇水平高的学生在随后考试前接受渐进性肌肉松弛(PMR)指导后进行了第三次测量。此外,参与者完成了两份问卷:感知压力量表(PSS)和费舍尔气质问卷。基于PSS的组分析表明,39名参与者报告有高压力。女性的压力明显高于男性(=0.042054)。在主管型和建设者型气质类型之间观察到压力水平存在显著差异(=0.029276)。从第一次测量到第二次测量,以及实施PMR后的第三次测量,皮质醇水平显著下降。根据PSS,“皮肤性病学”课程的成绩与压力水平相关(k=0.578467)。预测试皮质醇水平与冬季考试期间使用PMR指南的频率相关(k=0.416138)。压力会对免疫系统产生负面影响并带来健康风险。在牙科/医学教育中实施减压技术可能会使学生和医疗保健系统受益。