Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to compare causes of stress and coping strategies adopted by a sample of undergraduate health-profession students at the Gulf Medical University, United Arab Emirates. Methods: An anonymous voluntary questionnaire-based survey was conducted, from January to July 2011, among first- and second-year medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and physiotherapy students (N = 212) to identify causes of stress. Coping strategies were studied using the Brief COPE Inventory. Results: Worries regarding the future (54.2%) and parental expectations (40.1%) were the major stressors. Poor diet (36.8%) and a lack of exercise (36.3%) were also reported to cause stress. Students used multiple strategies, mainly religion/praying (74.5%), planning (70.5%) and taking action (70.5%) to cope with stress. There were no significant differences observed in the stressors or coping strategies between genders or programmes. First-year students (62.5%) relied on emotional support significantly more (P <0.05) than second-year students (48.5%). Conclusion: The main causes of stress were worries regarding future and parental expectations. The majority of the students used positive coping strategies, with religion/praying found to be the most frequently used strategy.
Publication details
- DOI
- 10.18295/2075-0528.1500
- Journal
- Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 13(3), 430-434
- Publisher
- Sultan Qaboos University
- Open access
- Gold open access
- License
- CC BY-ND 4.0
Cite this article
APA 7
Gomathi, K. G., Ahmed, S., & Jayadevan (2025). Causes of Stress and Coping Strategies Adopted by Undergraduate Health Professions Students in a University in the United Arab Emirates. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 13(3), 430-434. https://doi.org/10.18295/2075-0528.1500
MLA 9
Gomathi, Kadayam G., et al. "Causes of Stress and Coping Strategies Adopted by Undergraduate Health Professions Students in a University in the United Arab Emirates." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 13, no. 3, 2025, pp. 430-434. https://doi.org/10.18295/2075-0528.1500.
Chicago (author–date)
Gomathi, Kadayam G., Soofia Ahmed, and Jayadevan. 2025. "Causes of Stress and Coping Strategies Adopted by Undergraduate Health Professions Students in a University in the United Arab Emirates." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 13 (3): 430-434. https://doi.org/10.18295/2075-0528.1500.
Harvard
Gomathi, K. G., Ahmed, S. and Jayadevan (2025) 'Causes of Stress and Coping Strategies Adopted by Undergraduate Health Professions Students in a University in the United Arab Emirates', Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 13(3), pp. 430-434. doi:10.18295/2075-0528.1500.
Vancouver
Gomathi KG, Ahmed S, Jayadevan. Causes of Stress and Coping Strategies Adopted by Undergraduate Health Professions Students in a University in the United Arab Emirates. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2025;13(3):430-434. doi:10.18295/2075-0528.1500
IEEE
K. G. Gomathi, S. Ahmed, and Jayadevan, "Causes of Stress and Coping Strategies Adopted by Undergraduate Health Professions Students in a University in the United Arab Emirates," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 430-434, 2025, doi: 10.18295/2075-0528.1500.