title: Factors associated with stress among medical students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the probable factors responsible for stress among undergraduate medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The qualitative descriptive study was conducted at a public-sector medical college in Islamabad, Pakistan, from January to April 2014. Self-administered open-ended questionnaires were used to collect data from first year medical students in order to study the factors associated with the new environment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 115 students in the study with a mean age of 19±6.76 years. Overall, 35(30.4%) students had mild to moderate physical problems, 20(17.4%) had severe physical problems and 60(52.2%) did not have any physical problem. Average stress score was 19.6±6.76. Major elements responsible for stress identified were environmental factors, new college environment, student abuse, tough study routines and personal factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Majority of undergraduate students experienced stress due to both academic and emotional factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, Army Medical College, Assistant editor Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal (PAFMJ), Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Khadija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qamar
authors.affiliation: Director General, Medical Services (N), Islamabad, Community Health, Bahria Medical and Dental College, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Najamus Saqib
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: National University of Sciences & Technology, Islamabad, Department of Anatomy, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Muhammad Rizwan
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bashir Kiani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D058445:Bullying; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Medical students, Stress, Factors.