Dental Students’ Perceived Stress during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Tehran, Iran

Mental health is an inseparable part of overall health and healthcare workers have experienced mental issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the amount of stress undergone by dental students and its affecting factors.

This cross-sectional study included all students of Shahid Beheshti Dental School, Tehran. The data on demographic and individual-social characteristics of the participants and questions related to the perceived stress level (PSS-10 questionnaire) were collected using an online questionnaire. The results were analyzed using a T-test and the correlations in SPSS-26 (P<0.05).

A total of 511 students participated in the study. The mean score of the perceived stress level was 15.9 out of 40, indicating a moderate level of perceived stress. Eleven students had suffered from COVID-19 and 13% were in close contact with those infected. Most of the students (72%) used public transportation. About 60% regularly did exercise, and the majority had enough hours of sleep. After examining the relationship between the individual factors and perceived stress level, it was revealed that the PSS was significantly lower in people who had adequate and a regular sleeping timetable (p<0.05). Furthermore, people who had contracted the COVID-19 virus (p=0.019) or had relatives who were infected (p =0.007) experienced higher levels of stress. Suffering from preexisting medical conditions was another significant factor in higher perceived stress levels (p=0.027).

This study indicated that students had gone through a moderate level of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. People with systemic conditions, sleep disorders, and those who had contracted the COVID-19 virus themselves or their reletives, experienced higher levels of stress. The requirement to provide courses on stress management skills, family awareness, and use of mental health services to reduce the negative effects of this psychological burden is highly recommended .