A retrospective cohort study on the relationship of stress level and change in BMI among first year medical students of DLSHSI, Dasmarinas, Cavite S.Y. 2012-2013

Date of Completion

2013

Document Type

Research Project

Degree Name

Community Medicine

Keywords

Stress, Psychological, Medical Students, Body Mass Index

Abstract

This study employed restrospective cohort study. Simple random sampling was used to select the sample population. Change in BMI was obtained through the existing medical school record and actual measuring of BMI later in course of the reserach. Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) was used to score stress levels focusing on academic stress and was correlated to BMI change. Gender and socioeconomic status was considered as a confounding variable. Inferential statistical value was obtained using Epi info 7. Based on the results, a total of 154 first year medical student were evaluated for stress levels and change in BMI. Of the 154 students, 109 (70.8%) lack good control over stress majority of which were females and 51 exhibited change in BMI; analyzed with Chi-square with a p-value = 1.3599. Risk ratio for each gender group suggest opposite relationship for stress and BMI change validating its role as a confounder. Socioeconomic status showed no significant effect on stress and BMI change. Higher stress levels for female group were at par with other studies. The study concluded that control over stress had no relationship with change in BMI. Gender was found to be confounding variables. It was recommended to extend the study to other year levels, lengthen the duration of exposure to stress, and look into other coping mechanisms related to BMI change and stress.

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