Student mental health: the case studies

Abstract

University life can precipitate a chain of unfortunate reactions. Stressors and the effects which stress can have on an individual could vary considerably. There are a number of theories of stress. The case studies were an attempt to study in detail the specific stressors and problems suffered by 16 students from the Professions Allied to Medicine. They were part of a larger sample of 45 and previous to that an original sample of 210. Students were tested and retested after an 18-month period using a number of measures. The results showed no definitive pattern but resulted in a volume of information from which conclusions may be drawn. On the whole, coping resources were poor. There was a high level of physiological and psychological symptoms to the point of ‘caseness’ in the GHQ30. There was no association between stress levels and coping nor personalities and emotional indications. Entrance qualifications and final examination results were closely related. What enabled those students with abnormally high clinically indicated psychiatric profiles to complete the course with such outstanding academic results? Answers may lie in theories of activation, motivation, arousal and inhibition illustrated in a model of student mental health.