Abdel-Hady El-Gilany, Mostafa Amr
Background and Objectives: Few data are available on the level and sources of stress among law students in the Middle East generally and in Egypt specifically. We conducted this study to identify the prevalence and predictors of perceived stress among law students in Mansoura University, Egypt.
Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study covered 426 law students selected through a stratified cluster sampling method. The questionnaire covered four categories, including 15 items on sources of stress (stressors). Perceived stress scale and Hospital anxiety and depression scale were used to measure stress, anxiety and depression.
Results: A high level of perceived stress, anxiety and depression were reported by 42.2%, 59.2% and 18.2%, respectively. On the scale for sources of stress, 80% experienced personal troubles and two thirds of the sample had relationship, academic and environmental problems.
Conclusions: It appears that the law students have a high level of perceived stress and majority of it is generated from personal factors and less from the academic or environmental factors. Additional studies are needed to improve our understanding of the causes and consequences of law students' stress.
