Assessment of Psychological Stress Levels Among First-Year Undergraduate Dental Students: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Study

Background: Dental students often experience psychological stress due to academic pressure, examinations, and adapting to a new learning environment. First-year students are particularly vulnerable to this transition.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire was conducted with 114 first-year undergraduate dental students to assess their stress.

Results: Most students (40.4%) reported moderate stress, followed by high (30.7%) and low (28.9%) stress. Female students made up the majority of participants (91.2%), while male students had slightly higher mean stress scores.

Conclusion: A significant number of first-year dental students experienced moderate-to-high stress. Academic workload and transition to the dental curriculum likely contribute to this stress.

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