Concerns of entering dental students.

First-year students from three dental schools were surveyed during their first week of classes to assess their areas of concern. Factor analysis of the data revealed five independent areas of concern--psychosocial, academic, time, isolation, and money. A high degree of similarity was found in the order in which students ranked their concerns. Significant differences in the intensity of concern were found for academics and time. The implications of this study for future research on stress and coping behavior are discussed.