A survey of medical, law, and chemistry and psychology graduate students' perceived stresses (academic activities, personal relationships, time pressures, and financial concerns) contradicted the expectation that medical students' stress level would be highest. Time restrictions and economic and academic issues produced the highest stress. (MSE)

A study of student stress before and after a clinical clerkship examined the relationship of favorable or unfavorable stress, as perceived by the student, to locus of control and self-esteem. The major finding was an association of unfavorable stress with poor academic performance. Stress management training is recommended. (MSE)

The Medical School Learning Environment Survey was developed to measure aspects of the learning environment relevant to student stress. Results of the first administration and plans for future projects using the survey are discussed. (Author/LBH)

An effort to teach medical students practical stress management skills is discussed. A group of students volunteered to participate in a six-session program that taught them personal stress management techniques including self-relaxation training, schedule-planning, priority-setting, leisure time-planning, and cognitive modification techniques.…

A weekly discussion group for first-year medical graduate students to discuss stress in their lives revealed three major sources of stress: (1) high expectations of themselves under conditions of high time and professional pressure; (2) loss of control over one's life; and (3) ambivalence about dependence versus independence. (MSE)

A study is reported that sought to determine the prevalence and incidence of stress-associated illnesses and to identify possible sources of stress among students enrolled in a combined medical-doctoral (M.D.-Ph.D.) program. The information obtained from M.D.-Ph.D. students was compared with the responses of M.D. students and Ph.D. students.…

Ways in which some students responded to the stress of a two-month psychiatric clerkship in a Veterans Administration hospital are discussed. Particular problems are delineated and methods of preventing and dealing with them are suggested, including: anticipation, sharing concerns, being available, intervention, intrastaff communication, referral…

A small-group program established to provide advice and support in areas of stress for freshman students at Indiana University School of Medicine is described. Two objectives of the program were met: increasing intraclass student communication and support and decreasing student anonymity. (MLW)

The physician's life-style has been documented to be one of great stress, yet minimal educational and preventive measures are directed to medical students or house officers to reduce stress during training and thereafter. Training program directors should do all they can to prevent physician impairment. (Author/MLW)

A program designed to help participants cope with stress was offered to students at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. The program was taught in a group format and focused on helping subjects to acquire and rehearse coping skills involving cognitive restructuring and progressive muscle relaxation. (MLW)

Sources of stress are multidimensional. Socio-demographic antecedent variables are much more highly correlated with stress than are others. Feelings of stress are positively related to possible consequences of stress. (Author/KE)

A comparative study of medical and law students was undertaken to examine the sources and consequences of stress during professional training and the impact of stress on personal relationships. Women reported significantly more stress than men. (Author/MLW)

Medical students at Wright State University School of Medicine were asked to rate specialties as most and least stressful, to indicate whether they considered stress to be favorable or unfavorable, and to complete instruments measuring stress. There was no significant association among high stress and choice of least stressful specialties.…

Stress was investigated in two classes of first-year medical students with support groups, didactic sessions, and no-contact control conditions. Few differences in personality measures were found, and all group means were within the normal range. Results bring into question the reported extent of chronic stress in this group. (MSE)

First-year medical students' attitudes toward their free time and how these attitudes relate to self-reported stress levels were examined. Findings suggest a need for educating students about the benefits of well-spent leisure time as a stress management mechanism. (Author/MLW)