Sources of stress for pharmacy students in a nationwide sample

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to provide insight into the sources of stress experienced by current professional year pharmacy students in the United States.

Methods: An online survey related to the sources of stress of current pharmacy students was distributed nationally. The survey included a section in which the respondent could choose any or all of 10 stress factors: coursework, grades, faculty, health concerns, family, current job market, finances, lack of sleep, friends, and “other.” The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was also administered. Frequency and distribution of stressors and stress levels across professional year was also assessed.

Results: A majority of respondents reported coursework, lack of sleep, finances, and grades as stressors. A minority of participants selected family, job market, faculty, friends, health concerns and “other” stressors. Grades, lack of sleep, and faculty had the largest association with increased PSS scores. P4 students reported significantly fewer stressors than other years. More advanced students were less likely to report lack of sleep, grades, or coursework, but were more likely to select the job market.

Conclusion: Academic concerns are a primary source of stress for a large majority of the sample. Development of interventions should focus on earlier professional years and emphasize the importance of sleep and physical health as students in these years report these stressors more frequently than advanced students. Further research is necessary to validate and extend the present findings.