Prevalence of Psychological Stress among Undergraduate Students Attending a Health Programme in a Malaysian University

Psychological stress among undergraduate students is associated with poor academic results, physical ill-health and psychiatric disorders. the objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of psychological stress and its associated factors among undergraduate students attending a health programme in a local university. this is a cross-sectional study among undergraduate students attending a health programme in a local university. the 12-item general health questionnaire (ghq-12) was used to determine the presence of psychological stress at a cut-off point of 4 and above. analysis was conducted to determine any association between gender, ethnicity, year of study in the university, recent health-seeking contact with a doctor, and psychological stress among the participants. the prevalence of psychological stress among undergraduate students attending a health program in a malaysian university was 49.3%. there was no significant association with any of the socio-demographic factors studied (p>0.05). the prevalence of psychological stress in this study was significantly high, and irrespective of gender, ethnicity, year of study in the university, and recent health-seeking contact with a doctor. hence, the findings of this study show that it may be a useful strategy to integrate such health programs regularly in activities of colleges and universities, with the aim of promoting mental health and wellness among the students.