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Stress and work‐life balance in undergraduate dental students in Birmingham, United Kingdom and Hong Kong, China
Author(s) -
Narwal Simran,
Narwal Pavandeep,
Leung Yiu Yan,
Ahmed Bilal
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1930-7837
pISSN - 0022-0337
DOI - 10.1002/jdd.12596
Subject(s) - stressor , likert scale , balance (ability) , psychology , statistical analysis , medical education , china , work–life balance , medicine , gerontology , work (physics) , clinical psychology , physical therapy , engineering , developmental psychology , statistics , mathematics , political science , law , mechanical engineering
Purpose/objectives Dentistry is a challenging profession, subjecting students to various stressors which can affect well‐being. This study in 2019 investigates the relationship between stress and work‐life balance in dental students at University of Birmingham and The University of Hong Kong, from two different countries. Methods Online anonymous questionnaires were completed by 54 students from Birmingham and 48 students from Hong Kong. Ethical approval was gained by both centres. Quantitative and qualitative data were captured with Likert scales and open questions. Using simple descriptive statistics in SPSS, Pearson chi‐square tests determined statistical significance between categorical and quantitative variables ( p < 0.05). Results The majority of students from University of Birmingham (38.9%) felt “extremely stressed,” whereas the majority of students from The University of Hong Kong (45.8%) only felt “slightly stressed” ( p < 0.001). Exercise and emotional support appeared to be positive approaches for stress relief. Hong Kong dental students (68.8%) reported a good work‐life balance compared to significantly fewer students (24.1%) in University of Birmingham ( p < 0.001). Conclusion Major stressors in this study included examinations and fear of failure. Students found that hobbies and extracurricular activities contributed to a healthier lifestyle. A better work‐life balance reduced reported stress levels.