Stress risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases

Daria Sukhareva; Сухарева Дарья Сергеевна; Vladislav Olegovich Sudakov; Судаков Владислав Олегович; Irina Vladimirovna Kochetkova; Кочеткова Ирина Владимировна; Elena Anatolievna Fursova; Фурсова Елена Анатольевна; Evgeny Evgenievich Larin; Ларин Евгений Евгеньевич

Stress risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases

Authors: Sukhareva D.¹, Sudakov V.O.¹, Kochetkova I.V.¹, Fursova E.A.¹, Larin E.E.¹
Affiliations:
1. Voronezh State Medical University named after N.N.Burdenko
Issue: Vol 14 (2025): Материалы XXI Международного Бурденковского научного конгресса 24-26 апреля 2025
Pages: 449-454
Section: Профилактическая медицина
URL: https://new.vestnik-surgery.com/index.php/2415-7805/article/view/10456

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Abstract

Everyone, regardless of gender, age, profession, or social status, experiences stress. It is especially important to understand how students who are in an educational environment that requires them to be more independent, responsible, and organized relate to stressful situations. Not all students can successfully cope with the difficulties and challenges they face. In any case, studying at a university becomes a source of stress for a significant part of students. The purpose of this study is to analyze how medical university students perceive stress. As part of a sociological study, students' attitudes to stress were studied, taking into account parameters such as gender and age. The study revealed that a significant percentage of students are stressed, which manifests itself in mood swings, pronounced physical weakness and unreasonable worries. The study participants also noted nervousness.

Keywords

CND, stress, psychological problems

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Stress is a constant companion of human life, which almost every one of us faces at one time or another. However, its intensity and ways of overcoming it vary individually for everyone. For some, this is just a slight excitement, while for others who do not know how to cope with this ordeal, stress can turn into a serious problem, burdening their daily existence. High levels of stress caused by the desire for success have a detrimental effect on mental and physical health. Ironically, it is this academic stress that often causes a blow to students' academic performance. Psychological pressure causes them noticeable anxiety, inhibiting the learning process and predisposing them to chronic diseases [10]. Stress is an integral part of life. Studies conducted among students of the Voronezh Medical Institute demonstrate that the negative effects of stress are relevant for students across the country [1, 2, 9].
The purpose of the work is to study the awareness and attitude of respondents to stress. It is proposed to analyze the data obtained during the survey, on the basis of which conclusions were drawn and recommendations were made to combat the modified risk factor.
Materials and methods of research. The study of the prevalence of risk factors for chronic infectious diseases among young people was conducted on the basis of a sociological survey for the period from September 2023 to December 2024 at Voronezh State Medical University named after N.N. Burdenko. The students served as the empirical basis of the research.
The questionnaire questions were aimed at determining the number of people exposed to harmful habits, in particular smoking, alcohol abuse, drug use, sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, and also reflected the respondents' attitude to a healthy lifestyle and preferred type of recreation.
Inclusion criteria: medical university students aged 20-22 who, in their opinion, have no health problems
and have signed a voluntary informed consent to participate in an anonymous survey.
A survey was conducted using a questionnaire provided in a Google form during the training of 5th-year students on a 9-day cycle of "Medical prevention" according to the Federal State Educational Standard for Higher Professional Education 3+: "Attitude to stress". This questionnaire was developed by the Russian Society for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases and is used in the work of the Voronezh Regional Clinical Center for Public Health and Medical Prevention.
Descriptive statistics methods were used to evaluate the survey results. The calculation was performed in the Statistica 12 package. Within the framework of this work, it was not envisaged to divide respondents into groups and compare indicators in dynamics and within a group.
Research results: In a study conducted among 136 respondents, it was found that 22.8% of the participants were men, while 77.2% were women. This sex ratio may indicate certain trends in the perception of stress in the learning environment, as well as differences in how men and women cope with learning pressures and stressful situations. Studying at the university is a serious challenge for most students. From the very beginning of their educational journey, they face varying levels of stress, which can have a negative impact on their emotional state, motivation, and behavior. According to the World Health Organization, stressful situations are the cause of about 45% of diseases, which underlines the importance of this problem and the need to study it. Stress can manifest itself in various forms, from mild anxiety to serious psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders. Each student actively participates in educational and professional activities, which become his main occupation and occupy a significant part of his time. This activity not only requires mental effort, but is also associated with many stressful situations. The learning process includes not only learning new subjects, but also completing assignments, preparing for exams, and interacting with teachers and fellow students. All this creates significant emotional stress, causing both positive and negative emotions. Positive emotions can arise from academic success, new acquaintances and satisfaction from the acquired knowledge. At the same time, negative emotions can be associated with failures, fear of exams, and pressure from others. In the first year of study, students often face drastic changes in their lifestyle. Going to university means a change in social status and the need to adapt to new conditions. Students must learn how to build new relationships, find common ground with fellow students and teachers, and master the rules and principles of a new environment. These changes can be both positive and negative, and significantly affect stress levels. Adapting to a new environment can be difficult, especially for those who have difficulty communicating or are afraid of the new. According to the survey results, the majority of students (88.2%) believe that they are stressed. This highlights the prevalence of the problem among young people, who often do not know how to cope with the difficulties that arise. However, 11 respondents, which is 8% of the total, claim that they are completely stress-free. This may indicate a high level of stress tolerance among these students, as well as the availability of effective stress management strategies. Perhaps they have time management skills, good social connections, or just have a more optimistic outlook on life. It is important to note that stress in the learning environment can have both positive and negative effects on students. Moderate stress levels can help increase productivity and motivation to study. However, excessive stress can lead to burnout, lower academic performance, and poorer overall health. Therefore, it is important that students are aware of stress management techniques and use them in their daily lives. This may include exercising, meditation, socializing with friends and family, as well as professional help if needed. Thus, the problem of stress among students is urgent and requires careful study. It is important to develop skills in young people that will help them cope with difficulties and adapt to new living conditions, so that they can successfully overcome the challenges that university study poses to them.