Identification and Quantification of Stressors in Physiotherapy Students

Introduction– High levels of stress is seen in healthcare students. The scores for emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation are higher than normative data in the majority of clinical physiotherapy practitioners showing a risk of potential burnout. (Balogun et al., 2000) A sound mental and physical health is a prerequisite for any professional or personal achievement. Objective– The objectives of the study were to identify the common stressors in physiotherapy students, the perceived extent to which different stressors contribute to stress in the students and to compare the extent to which different stressors contribute to stress in undergraduate and postgraduate students. Methodology– 383 students from different parts of Maharashtra, Manipal and Bhopal were presented with a questionnaire consisting of two parts, the PSS-10 and a self-made questionnaire. Results– Out of the 383 students that participated in the study, 12.5% students had high stress levels, 78.6% had moderate stress levels and 8.9% had low stress levels. The various stressors identified were intrapersonal, interpersonal, academic, financial and environmental. Academic stress contributed to most stress in both undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy students. Conclusion– The mental health of physiotherapy students is of concern as there are a large number of students who are stressed. It is necessary to take measures to tackle the stress in these students thus promoting the betterment of their mental well-being.