Domain-specific stress profiles among dental, medical and non-medical students: a cross-sectional study

A cross-sectional study of 518 students at the University of Strasbourg found that perceived stress and reported stressors differed across the Faculties of Dental Surgery, Medicine, and Life Sciences. Overall stress was slightly but significantly lower among dental students than among medical and life sciences students, according to the study abstract. Female students reported higher stress levels than male students across all measured domains, while academic stressors contributed most strongly to stress in every group.

Researchers used an adapted French version of the Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire, MSSQ-20, to assess stressors in six domains: academic; intrapersonal and interpersonal; teaching and learning; social; drive and desire; and group activities. The analysis compared stress scores by programme, gender, and stage of training. Because the survey was conducted within one university, the findings describe differences among these student groups in that shared institutional environment rather than differences between universities or in student populations generally.

Medical students recorded the highest academic stress score. Teaching- and learning-related stressors formed the second most prominent domain, with similar reported stress levels across the three groups. Dental students reported greater interpersonal and intrapersonal stress than the other students, particularly in relation to interactions with supervisors. In contrast, life sciences students reported significantly higher stress associated with drive and desire and with group activities. These measured profiles show that the relative importance of particular stressors varied by programme even though academic stressors ranked highest throughout.

The authors stated that the findings support considering programme-sensitive approaches alongside institution-wide strategies involving feedback practices, expectations, and gender-related differences in perceived stress. The abstract does not report the implementation or evaluation of an intervention, however, and the study does not establish that any educational feature caused the observed differences. Selection, socioeconomic, motivational, and individual factors were not measured, so they remain possible influences alongside programme-related educational experiences. The cross-sectional design and single-institution scope also limit conclusions about causality, trends over time, and wider applicability.

Subject of Research: Cross-sectional comparison of perceived stress among dental, medical, and life sciences students at one university.

Article Title: Domain-specific stress profiles among dental, medical and non-medical students: a cross-sectional study

Article References: Cournault, B., Bonnot, V., Fernandez de Grado, G., Meyer, F., & Ehlinger, C. (2026). Domain-specific stress profiles among dental, medical and non-medical students: a cross-sectional study. BMC Medical Education. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-10497-z

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12909-026-10497-z

Keywords: student stress, dental education, medical education, life sciences students, cross-sectional study, academic stressors, gender differences, MSSQ-20, University of Strasbourg, Domain-specific, stress, profiles