Dental education is a stressful experience for some students. Dental students have been found to report stress levels higher than in the general population, with 36% of students reporting significant psychological distress. Canadian dental students have reported an increase in anxiety, depression and hostility. No research was found to have investigated dental education stress using a qualitative analytical approach. Objectives: This study aimed to better understand the experience of stress among dentistry students using qualitative methodology. Methods: 12 recent graduates from the McGill University Faculty of Dentistry were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Themes from the interviews were identified and coded by reading and rereading the texts until information-saturation occurred. Results: Firstly, four sources of stress were identified: workload pressure, fear of failure, faculty relations, and transition stress. Secondly, three effective coping mechanisms were highlighted by the students: seeking support, focusing on things that they can control, and participating in extra-curricular activities. Finally, three types of students with respect to their experience of stress were found: the highly stressed student, the moderately stressed student, and the relaxed student. This typology of dental student is new information that has not been studied before. Conclusion: Faculties need to identify and aid highly stressed students.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.111601 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Dahan, Haissam. |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Faculty of Dentistry.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 003135221, proquestno: AAIMR66904, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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