Alok K Mathur
Indian Institute of Health Management Research, India
Title: Stress anxiety and depression among adolescents preparing for medical and engineering entrance exams in India
Biography
Biography: Alok K Mathur
Abstract
The present study was accomplished to examine the level of stress, anxiety and depression faced by the adolescents who were taking coaching for pre-medical and pre-engineering exams in Kota. The broad objective of the study was to assess the level of depression, anxiety and stress among students preparing for competitive exams like IIT, CPMT, RPMT, AFMC, AIEEE, RPET etc. and also to find out the difference in the level of sBackground: The present study was accomplished to examine the level of stress, anxiety and depression faced by the adolescents who were taking coaching for pre-medical and pre-engineering exams in Kota.
Objective: The broad objective of the study was to assess the level of depression, anxiety and stress among students preparing for competitive exams like IIT, CPMT, RPMT, AFMC, AIEEE, RPET etc. and also to find out the difference in the level of stress, anxiety and depression between those who are preparing for engineering and medical entrance exams.
Methods: The total population from 8 sample coaching institutes is 800 adolescents of which 400 students were from pre-medical and 400 were from pre-engineering coaching institutions of Kota city. The tool used to measure three negative emotional states was DASS (Depression, anxiety and stress scale). The anxiety level of adolescents was measured on four constructs: autonomic arousal, skeletal muscle effect, situational anxiety and subjective experience of anxious effect.
Results: The major findings suggested that nearly about one third of adolescents of the sample reported moderate level of anxiety, which was followed by normal, severe, extremely severe and mild level of anxiety. A substantially large number of students (approximately 30 percent) were found to be depressed at moderate level. The girls were found to be more depressed and having the feeling of hopelessness, sadness, decreased level of enthusiasm, anhedonia, inertia, etc.
Conclusion: The final analysis of stress, anxiety and depression reveals that extremely severe cases were found more in Medical students than in Engineering students.stress, anxiety and depression between those who are preparing for engineering and medical entrance exams. The total population of the 8 sample coaching institutes is 800 adolescents of which 400 students were from pre-medical and 400 were from pre-engineering coaching institutions of Kota city. The tool used to measure three negative emotional states was DASS (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale). The anxiety level of adolescents was measured on four constructs: autonomic arousal, skeletal muscle effect, situational anxiety, and subjective experience of anxious effect. The major findings suggested that near about one third of adolescents of the sample reported moderate level of anxiety, which was followed by normal, severe, extremely severe and mild level of anxiety. A substantially large number of students (approximately 30 percent) were found to be depressed at moderate level. The girls were found to be more depressed and having the feeling of hopelessness, sadness, decreased level of enthusiasm, Anhedonia, Inertia, etc. The final analysis of Stress, Anxiety and Depression reveals that extremely severe cases were found more in medical than Engineering.