Predicting stress and test anxiety among 1st-year chiropractic students

Area of Science:

• Chiropractic Education
• Medical Education Research
• Student Well-being

Background:

• Perceived stress is a significant factor in higher education.
• Understanding stressors in chiropractic programs is crucial for student support.
• Test anxiety can impede academic performance in demanding programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate perceived stress in first-year chiropractic students.
• To examine the relationship between perceived stress and test anxiety.
• To identify key stressors impacting chiropractic education.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal descriptive study of 407 chiropractic students over 6 months.
• Hypotheses tested included stress increase, predictors of stress (GPA, depression), and correlation with test anxiety.
• Utilized Perceived Chiropractic College Stress (PCCS), Depression Scale, and Test Anxiety Inventory.

Main Results:

• Perceived chiropractic college stress (PCCS) increased by 18% after 6 months.
• Depression levels at matriculation predicted PCCS, while GPA did not.
• PCCS correlated significantly with test anxiety (worry and emotionality).
• Top student-identified stressors: finances, life balance, competence, and curriculum.

Conclusions:

• Perceived stress rises during chiropractic training, similar to medical school.
• Depression is a more significant predictor of stress than GPA in chiropractic students.
• High perceived stress and test anxiety are linked, potentially hindering academic success.