Perceived level of stress and coping strategies to online lectures among first year medical students / Frances Carmella D. Agonoy, Maria Stella D. Alto, Anne Therese M. Avendaño, Paula Bianca D. Bacud, Isabelle Nicole L. Bagnes, Trisha Mae M. Balajadia, Diomey Sedgwyk Har-V S. Balino, Yeuclaire Dorothy M. Belaza, Ivana S. Biado, Richard A. Billote, Rachel B. Bitao, Danielle Keilah I. Blazo, Ma. Virginia Nicola S. Bustos, Mary Therese S. Calimbas, Chelsie Frances J. Camu, Chelsey Harizza Q. Casiquin, Shemlene D. Dacayan, Sophia Loi U. Dimaculangan, Auen Joy Z. Egar, Nasha Mari P. Endaya, Jose Mari L. Esguerra, Jerene Bashia B. Fernandez, Camille Trisha G. Floralde and Jennifer Christy L. Broqueza.

Includes bibliographical references.

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic shifted the educational system to online learning, which made students face problems that they don't usually experience with traditional learning. This abrupt change leads to more difficulty in adapting, forcing us to use a variety of coping strategies to effectively respond to school-related stress. The study aimed to determine the perceived level of stress and the coping mechanisms used by first-year medical students in online based learning, which were categorized as approach or avoidant coping. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was done involving 184 first year medical students enrolled in Far Eastern University- Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU-NRMF) School of Medicine with a full-unit load. Simple random sampling was used to select the respondents. Google Forms was utilized as a mode of answering the Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) and the BRIEF-Cope which were used to assess the intensity of stress of the students and identify their coping strategies, respectively. Out of 184 selected participants of this study, 184 (100%) response were received. 108 (58.7%) of the students have severe stress caused by academic-related stressors. 132 (71.7%) of the students mostly used approach coping mechanisms. Under avoidant coping mechanism, 82 (44.6%) of them have been doing self-distraction a lot. Planning, classified under approach coping was identified to be used a lot by 86 (46.7%) of the students. This study conducted on first year medical students currently undergoing online learning found that the majority perceived academic-related stressors to cause severe stress. Planning is the major approach coping mechanism while self-distraction was the most reported strategy for avoidant coping. The understanding of students' mental health status with regards to their perceived level of stress will help the institution to improve the e-learning platform by providing new coping strategies (in line with the current pandemic) and improving support to the students.

Thesis - Department of Community & Family Medicine