Resumen

ORTIZ, SILVIA; SILVIA, TAFOYA; FARFAN, AURORA  y  AURORA, JAIMES. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS ON THE HIGH ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE PROGRAM. rev.fac.med [online]. 2013, vol.21, n.1, pp.29-37. ISSN 0121-5256.

To link the sources of stress, coping strategies and academic performance among medical students. For this we conducted a longitudinal study involving 93 first-year undergraduates and with 80 second-year undergraduates in the follow up, enrolled on the Faculty of Medicine's high academic performance program. Two surveys-Sources of Stress among Medical Students and Coping Strategies-were carried out at four stages (at the start and end of the first and second years). It was observed that the stress level was maintained without significant changes to the first and second year, both at the first and at the second evaluation (F=2.18, p=0.09). However, only the stress scores detected at the initial measurement of the first year was related significantly to the final average of that year (r=-0.33, p≤0.05). In both year groups of medical students, "Problem Solving" was revealed as the main coping strategy, while "Distancing" was the strategy least used. By comparing the coping strategies between first and second-year students, differences were detected in the use of "Distancing," which was more prevalent among second-year students while "Social Support" was used more among first-year students. Although students whose coping strategy was mainly "Wishful Thinking" scored lower and experienced higher stress levels, no significant differences were found compared to other strategies. Was concluded that stress levels remained constant among first and second-year medical students but the sources that create them and the coping strategies change over the school year and appear linked to this population's academic performance.

Palabras clave : Coping behavior; sources of stress; medical students; high academic performance program.

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