PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ghada A. Bin Saif
AU  - Hala M. Alotaibi
AU  - Abdullateef A. Alzolibani
AU  - Noor A. Almodihesh
AU  - Hamad F. Albraidi
AU  - Najed M. Alotaibi
AU  - Gil Yosipovitch
TI  - Association of psychological stress with skin symptoms among medical students
AID  - 10.15537/smj.2018.1.21231
DP  - 2018 Jan 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 59--66
VI  - 39
IP  - 1
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/39/1/59.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/39/1/59.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2018 Jan 01; 39
AB  - Objectives: To evaluate the association between psychological stress and skin symptoms among medical students.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between January and June 2015. Electronic survey consists of Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) and Self-Reported Skin Complaints Questionnaire were distributed to all 1435 undergraduate students at College of Medicine, King Saud University (KSU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Results: Final analysis was performed on data from 529 (36.9%) students. Students were divided into three groups: least stressed students, n=135, PSQ index <0.39; highly stressed students, n=136, PSQ index >0.61; and moderately stressed students, n=258. Older age, female gender, during exam weeks, and fourth and fifth years of medical school (all p<0.01) were associated with the highest perceived stress levels. When compared to least stressed students, highly stressed students suffered from more oily, waxy patches or flakes on scalp (p≤0.0001), dry/sore rash (p≤0.0001), warts (p≤0.0001), pimples (p≤0.0001), itchy skin (p≤0.0001), hands itchy rash (p≤0.0001), hair loss (p≤0.0001), pull-out own hair (p=0.008), scaly skin (p=0.012), troublesome sweating (p=0.016), nails biting (p=0.028), and other rashes on face (p=0.028).Conclusion: Various common skin conditions could appear in context of psychological stress among medical students.