Stress in clinical psychology trainees

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Clinical psychology training involves significant stressors impacting trainee well-being.
• High levels of psychological distress are a concern in mental health professional training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess stress levels, sources, and coping mechanisms among clinical psychology trainees.
• To identify factors contributing to psychological distress in this population.

Main Methods:

• A postal survey was administered to 287 clinical psychology trainees.
• The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Health and Daily Living Schedule were utilized.
• Factor analysis was employed to identify underlying stress factors.

Main Results:

• 59% of trainees reported psychological distress (GHQ), a higher prevalence than other groups.
• Course structure and organization were the primary sources of stress.
• Second and third-year trainees reported more stress than first-year trainees; female trainees had higher GHQ scores.
• Talking with peers was the most frequent coping strategy; women utilized more cognitive and behavioral coping methods.

Conclusions:

• Clinical psychology training presents substantial stress, with course organization being a key factor.
• Peer support is a common coping strategy, but enhanced supervision and organizational support are desired.
• Addressing training-related stressors is crucial for trainee mental health and effective clinical practice.