title: Perceived stress scores among Saudi students entering universities: a prospective study during the first year of university life.
abstract: In this prospective study we wanted to determine whether perceived stress over time among students in the Preparatory Year of King Saud University (KSU) predisposes them to cardiometabolic abnormalities. A total of 110 apparently healthy Saudi students (35 men and 75 women enrolled during the 2010-2011 academic year) were included. Perceived stress was determined at baseline and 1 year later. Anthropometrics were obtained and morning fasting serum glucose, lipid profile and cortisol were measured at both times. Perceived stress was noted among 48.2% of subjects at baseline and was not significantly different after follow-up, with 45.4% scoring high. In men, the prevalence of perceived stress was 48.6% at baseline (13 out of 35) and 37.1% at follow-up (13 out of 35), while in women it was 48% at baseline and 49.3% at follow-up. Interestingly, significant improvements in the blood pressure and lipid profiles, with the exception of HDL-cholesterol, were observed in both men and women, while fasting glucose also improved in women. Serum cortisol was inversely associated to fasting glucose, and total- and LDL-cholesterol (p-values 0.007, 0.04 and 0.04, respectively). These data are opposite to findings in students entering Western universities, in whom increasing stress and a deteriorating cardiometabolic profile have been repeatedly noted. Perceived stress and morning cortisol levels among students of the Preparatory Year in KSU remained constant for both genders over time, yet an improved cardiometabolic profile was observed, suggesting good adaptation among our pre-college students in their first year of university life.
authors.affiliation: Prince Mutaib Chair for Biomarkers of Osteoporosis, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. aldaghri2011@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nasser M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Al-Daghri
authors.affiliation: Prince Mutaib Chair for Biomarkers of Osteoporosis, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. amothman@ksu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Abdulaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Othman
authors.affiliation: Preparatory Year Program, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. aalbanyan1@ksu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Abdulmajeed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albanyan
authors.affiliation: Prince Mutaib Chair for Biomarkers of Osteoporosis, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. chrousos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Omar S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Al-Attas
authors.affiliation: Prince Mutaib Chair for Biomarkers of Osteoporosis, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. msa@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Majed S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Alokail
authors.affiliation: Prince Mutaib Chair for Biomarkers of Osteoporosis, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. chrousos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabico
authors.affiliation: Biomarkers Research Program, Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. chrousos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chrousos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D006854:Hydrocortisone
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