title: Higher stress scores for female medical students measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) in Pakistan.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the stress level of medical students and the relationship between stress and academic year. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted at an undergraduate medical school with a five-year curriculum, in Pakistan, from January 2014 to April 2014. Medical students in the first four years were included in the study. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), a self-administered questionnaire, was distributed to the students. A total of 445 medical students completed the questionnaire. The average stress score was 19.61 (SD=6.76) with a range from 10 to 43. Stress was experienced by 169 students (41.7%). The scores of female students were higher than scores of males, indicating a higher stress level (P=0.011). The relationship between stress and academic year was insignificant (P=0.392).
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, National University of Sciences and Technology Army Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Khadija
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6152-0435
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qamar
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, National University of Sciences and Technology Army Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Rizwan Bash
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2335-1981
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, National University of Sciences and Technology Army Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aisha
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6507-0793
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayyub
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Atif Ahmed
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4531-468X
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5560-8222
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osama
keywords: Cross-sectional studies; Medical students; Pakistan; Psychological stress; Questionnaires