Dental Students' Stress - Focusing Exclusively on Goals

     A very recent systematic review showed that "dental students experience considerable levels of stress during their training. ... sources of that stress are mainly related to academic & clinical aspects of dental training. These elevated stress levels have been shown to have an effect on students’ academic performance, physical health, & psychological well-being." While medical students are known to experience high levels of anxiety & depression, "dental students reported higher stress levels in comparison to medical students."

       Elani HW et al. A Systematic Review of Stress in Dental Students. Journal of Dental Education 2014; 78(2):226-42.

     It's interesting that "examination, grades & clinical requirements" were found to be the main sources of stress for dental students. Does this mean that dental students live well-balanced, meaningful lives - the only source of stress being potential impediments to their goal of becoming a dentist? Were that the case, graduate dentists would be models of evolved conscious human beings. Students may fantasize that a dental (or any other) degree will guarantee a wonderful life. But one's occupation is only a PART of a meaningful, well-lived life.

     IF dental (medical, social work, psychology etc) students could learn to live more meaningful, balanced lives before & during professional training, wouldn't training become MUCH LESS stressful?

Elena Shumilova  http://www.flickr.com/photos/75571860@N06/11874722676/

The Culture of Medicine, Dentistry, Psychology etc ...

      “The culture of medicine is one in which perfectionism and 'workaholic standards' rule the day. Many practice settings reward long hours and self-neglect. Physicians are encouraged to disregard themselves and deny their own needs. The process of medical education may enhance development of defense mechanisms that make it difficult to ask for help... Physicians become masters at delayed gratification. Many medical students and residents spend years coping with the high level of demand required in medicine, often harboring the expectation that later they will be rewarded with a happy, more balanced life. However, the task-oriented coping skills developed during training do not go away automatically after training... the goal-oriented approach leads to neglecting alternative sources of gratification or self-esteem; thus, after training, physicians may not have a way to find meaningful balance between work and other life activities."                 

        Miller MN & McGowen KR 2000 

        Garneau K, Hutchinson T, Zhao Q, Dobkin PL. Cultivating person-centered medicine in future physicians. European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare 2013; 1(2): 468-77.  

Bee by Sam Droege   www.dpreview.com