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Does student debt affect dental students' and dentists' stress levels?
1University of Birmingham School of Dentistry, 5 Mill Pool Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7EG.
British Dental Journal
|October 28, 2017
Summary
Student debt significantly increases stress for dental students and dentists, particularly affecting females
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Public Health
- Dental Studies
Background:
- Financial worries and debt are known stressors.
- The existing stress of dental education exacerbates financial concerns.
- The impact of student debt on dental professionals' well-being and career choices requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of student debt on dental students' stress levels.
- To investigate the influence of student debt on dentists' career decisions.
- To determine if increased tuition fees have impacted dentistry program applications.
Main Methods:
- Anonymous questionnaires administered to 4th/5th year BDS students and Dental Core Trainees (DCTs).
- Data collected on stress levels, career path intentions, and financial situations.
- University application statistics for dentistry programs were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Higher student debt levels correlate with increased stress and worry about repayment.
- Sixty-three percent of females and 42% of males agreed that no debt would reduce stress.
- A 42% decrease in dentistry applications was observed following tuition fee increases.
Conclusions:
- Student debt demonstrably impacts stress levels among dental students.
- Financial support from family can mitigate student-related stress.
- Rising tuition fees appear to have a negative effect on dentistry program enrollment.
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