RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Association of psychological stress with skin symptoms among medical students
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 59
OP 66
DO 10.15537/smj.2018.1.21231
VO 39
IS 1
A1 Ghada A. Bin Saif
A1 Hala M. Alotaibi
A1 Abdullateef A. Alzolibani
A1 Noor A. Almodihesh
A1 Hamad F. Albraidi
A1 Najed M. Alotaibi
A1 Gil Yosipovitch
YR 2018
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/39/1/59.abstract
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.