Perfectionism is related with academic stress in medical student

Abstract

Objective

Especially medical students set high academic standard, and try hard to achieve because they are requested to studying medicine perfectly. Multidimensional perfectionism scale (MPS) is used to measure perfectionism in medical student. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationships between stress and various factors including perfectionism.

Methods

We enrolled 159 medical students from University of Ulsan college of Medicine. We used the Medical Stress scale (MSS), the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale(MPS), the patient health questionnaire-9(PHQ-9), the academic motivation scale (AMS), the insomnia severity scale(ISS), and The revised neo personality inventory.

Result

To analyze data, we used Pearson's correlation and logistic regression analysis. In the first step- Pearson's correlation analysis, a motivation, PHQ-9, ISI, perfectionism and neuroticism traits of NEO-PI significantly correlated with stress level (P < 0.001). In the second step, logistic regression analysis indicated that students who feel high level of academic stress (MSS score ≥ 28) are also related to a motivation, insomnia, perfectionism and neuroticism traits of NEO-PI (R2 = 0.389, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Student who tend to be perfect feel more academic stress. The high level of stress related to insomnia and a motivation in medical student. Moreover, personality trait also can influences their psychological stress level.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.