An evaluation of stress in medical students at a South African university

Figures & data

Table 1: The socio-demographic characteristics of the participants (n = 94)

Characteristics	n	%
Sex
Male	33	35
Female	61	65
Age (years)
Range	21–46	–
Median (± standard deviation)	23 (± 4)	–
Marital status
Single	90	96
Married	4	4
Race
Black African	61	65
Coloured	6	6
Indian	24	26
White	3	3
Religious groups
Christian	73	78
Hindu	11	12
Islam	8	8
Non practising or other	2	2
Financial obligations
None	17	18
Parent or family	10	11
State contracts	27	29
Loans	21	22
Sponsor	1	1
No responses	18	19

Table 2: Stress prevalence by race and gender

Stress by race and gender	Male			Female			Total
	n		%	n	%		n
African (n = 61)
Yes	19		31	29	47		48
No	2		3	7	12		9
Unsure	3		5	1	2		4
Coloured (n = 6)
Yes	0	0		3		50	3
No	1	17		1		17	2
Unsure	0	0		1		17	1
Indian (n = 24)
Yes	4	17		15		63	19
No	2	8		2		8	4
Unsure	1	4		0		0	1
White (n = 3)
Yes	1	33		2		67	3
No	0	0		0		0	0
Unsure	0	0		0		0	0
Total	33	35		61		65	94

Table 3: Perceived causes of stress (n = 58)

Theme	Male		Female		Total
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Workload (n = 38)
African	11	29	13	34	24	63
Coloured	0	0	1	3	1	3
Indian	4	10	7	18	11	29
White	0	0	2	5	2	5
Personal problems (n = 18)
African	6	33	6	33	12	66
Coloured	0	0	1	6	1	6
Indian	1	6	3	16	4	22
White	0	0	1	6	1	6
Language or communication problems (n = 2)
African	2	100	0	0	2	100
Total	24	42	34	59	58	100

Table 4: Coping strategies used by the participants (n = 76)

Theme	Male		Female		Total
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Lifestyle change (n = 41)
African	10	24	13	32	23	56
Coloured	0	0	3	7	3	7
Indian	3	7	10	24	13	31
White	1	3	1	3	2	6
Support structure (n = 16)
African	4	25	7	44	11	69
Coloured	0	0	1	6	1	6
Indian	1	6	3	19	4	25
White	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lifestyle and support structures (n = 18)
African	4	22	9	50	13	72
Coloured	0	0	1	6	1	6
Indian	1	6	3	17	4	23
White	0	0	0	0	0	0
Non-identifiable method (n = 1)
African	0	0	1	100	1	100
Total	24	32	52	68	76	100