title: Students' perceived stress and perception of barriers to effective study: impact on academic performance in examinations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify students' perceptions of barriers to effective study and the relationship between these and demographic characteristics, levels of perceived stress and examination performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was distributed to first (BDS1) and final year (BDS5) King's College London dental undergraduates, during Spring 2013. Data were collected on students' social and working environment using a Likert scale from zero to four. Levels of perceived stress and end-of-year examination results were collected. Statistical analyses were undertaken using SPSS® and Stata® software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A response rate of 83.0% (BDS1) and 82.9% (BDS5) was achieved. Social distractions were perceived to hinder study, with median scores of two and three for females and males respectively. The mean perceived stress score differed significantly (p=0.001) between males and females. Difficulties with journey was a significant predictor of perceived stress (p=0.03) as were family responsibilities (p=0.02). Social distractions were significantly related to examination performance (p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social distractions were the barrier most highly rated as hindering effective study. Levels of perceived stress were high and were significantly associated with gender, a difficult journey to university and family responsibilities. Social distractions were significantly related to examination performance; students rating social distractions highly, performed less well.
authors.affiliation: Kings College London Dental Institute, Guys Tower, London Bridge, SE1 9RT.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Kings College London Dental Institute, Guys Tower, London Bridge, SE1 9RT.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics and Research Methods Centre, King's College London, Dental Extension Building, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RJ.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andiappan
authors.affiliation: Kings College London Dental Institute, Guys Tower, London Bridge, SE1 9RT.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cabot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004497:Education, Dental; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult