Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The aims of this study were to investigate the perceived stress levels and health-promoting attributes (Sense of Coherence, social support and coping strategies) in dental-education students, as based on the Salutogenic Stress Model, to update the socio-demographic profile of Australian, New Zealand and Chilean dental students and to investigate their career decisions. Methods: All dental students (n=2049) from the Universities of Sydney andQueensland in Australia, the University of Otago in New Zealand, and from the Universities of Valparaiso and Talca in Chile, were invited to participate in a crosssectional study.A self-completion questionnaire was used, which comprised sociodemographic and career-choice questions, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (SOC-13), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Brief COPE (Coping Orientation to Problem Experiences) Scale.Results: Eight hundred and ninety-seven students participated, achieving a 44% response rate.Two-thirds of the sample were from Chilean dental schools.The students' mean age was 22.1 years (s.d.2.7) and the ages ranged from 18 to 38.The majority were females (59.3%).Of the students, 41.2% lived with their parents, and the majority reported having at least one parent working in a professional role.Australian and New Zealand students generally wanted to work in private and urban practices, and almost all Chilean students wanted to become specialists.Overall, students reported a moderate level of stress, a moderate Sense of Coherence (SOC) and a high level of social support.The linear regression model for stress explained 44% of the variance of perceived stress levels.Gender, age, career choices and delayed entry to the dental course were shown to be predictive factors for the iii development of stress.Higher levels of SOC and social support were negatively associated with stress, while the use of maladaptive coping strategies positively predicted high levels of stress.Conclusion: This study represents an initial exploration of the Salutogenic model as applied to dental students.As such, the study's findings would confirm that the sociodemographic profile varied slightly from previous reports.A high SOC score, a high level of social support and adaptive coping strategies were predictive of lower stress levels among dental students.Therefore, students with well-developed health-promoting attributes (HPA) were shown to cope more successfully with stress.Future research could investigate the effect of HPA on students' academic performance, and compare the SOC among different health careers, incorporating qualitative and longitudinal study designs.
Author: Karla Gambetta‐Tessini
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2282662321