Cited by 172Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnoutStudent Stress and CopingInnovations in Medical Education

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Perceived Medical School stress of undergraduate medical students predicts academic performance: an observational study

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Medical students are exposed to high amounts of stress. Stress and poor academic performance can become part of a vicious circle. In order to counteract this circularity, it seems important to better understand the relationship between stress and performance during medical education. The most widespread stress questionnaire designed for use in Medical School is the "Perceived Medical School Stress Instrument" (PMSS). It addresses a wide range of stressors, including workload, competition, social isolation and financial worries. Our aim was to examine the relation between the perceived Medical School stress of undergraduate medical students and academic performance. METHODS: We measured Medical School stress using the PMSS at two different time points (at the end of freshman year and at the end of sophomore year) and matched stress scores together with age and gender to the first medical examination (M1) grade of the students (n = 456). RESULTS: PMSS scores from 2 and 14 months before M1 proved to be significant predictors for medical students' M1 grade. Age and gender also predict academic performance, making older female students with high stress scores a potential risk group for entering the vicious circle of stress and poor academic performance. CONCLUSIONS: PMSS sum scores 2 and 14 months before the M1 exam seem to have an independent predictive validity for medical students' M1 grade. More research is needed to identify potential confounders.

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Metadata

Authors
Kötter, T., Wagner, J., Brüheim, L., & Voltmer, E.
Affiliations
  • University of Lübeck (DE)
  • Friedensau Adventist University (DE)
Corresponding author
Kötter, Thomas
Venue
BMC Medical Education
Published
2017-12
Volume
17
Issue
1
Pages
256-256
ISSN
1472-6920 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2775653810
Cited by
172
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 2
FWCI
15.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • BMC Medical Education (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
University of Lübeck
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Student Stress and Coping
  • Social Sciences › Education › Innovations in Medical Education
Keywords
academic performance, undergraduate medical students, predictors of academic performance, age and gender differences
MeSH terms
Academic Performance, Adult, Age Factors, Education, Medical, Undergraduate, Female, Germany, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Perception, Prospective Studies, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Schools, Medical, Sex Factors, Stress, Psychological, Students, Medical, Workload, Observation, Young Adult

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