Wang Xu, Claudeth Gamiao
ABSTRACT
This study investigates the relationship between stress levels, positive psychological capital, and life satisfaction among medical students, aiming to provide empirical support for research on life satisfaction within this population. A survey was conducted with 618 medical students from the Schools of Nursing, Clinical Medicine, and Dentistry at Anhui Medical College. The instruments used for data collection included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PPQ), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The findings revealed significant differences in stress levels-specifically in the dimensions of tension and feelings of loss of control-when grouped by gender, academic year, and department. Overall stress levels also varied significantly across these demographic factors. Similarly, significant differences were observed in positive psychological capital. These differences were evident in all four dimensions: self efficacy, hope, optimism, and resilience, as well as in overall positive psychological capital, when categorized by gender, academic year, and department. In terms of life satisfaction, notable differences were also found across gender, academic year, and department. Furthermore, the study found that stress levels and positive psychological capital are significantly correlated with life satisfaction. Specifically, higher stress levels were associated with lower life satisfaction, while higher levels of positive psychological capital were linked to greater life satisfaction. These findings suggest that effectively managing stress and fostering positive psychological capital can play a crucial role in enhancing the life satisfaction of medical students.
Keywords: Stress, Positive Psychological Capital, Life Satisfaction, Medical student
https://doi.org/10.57180/peqq8198