The Effect of Academic Stress on the Cognitive Function of Medical Students

Sri Mukti Suhartini; Rena Fuji Erin Setyawati; Winda Lestari; Prima Yuri Perwita; Bhakti Gunawan

doi:10.51276/edu.v6i2.1230

Authors

Sri Mukti Suhartini Universitas Gunadarma
Rena Fuji Erin Setyawati Universitas Gunadarma https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4618-3282
Winda Lestari Universitas Gunadarma
Prima Yuri Perwita Universitas Gunadarma
Bhakti Gunawan Universitas Gunadarma https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0038-0692

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51276/edu.v6i2.1230

Keywords:

Academic Stress , Cognitive Function , Medical Education

Abstract

Stress, as a body's response to maintaining the balance of bodily functions, can affect academic performance and is categorized as academic stress. Medical education has special characteristics that distinguish it from other study programs due to the higher challenges in the educational process. This study aimed to determine the effect of academic stress on cognitive function in medical students, which was analyzed through the students' grade point average (GPA). The research was carried out using a quantitative method with a cross-sectional design. The subject was a medical student at Universitas Gunadarma. The number of samples was 130 respondents. A Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) was administered. The student's GPA was collected. The data was analyzed using the Gamma test. The results were obtained that the majority of respondents experienced high-category stress. The majority of medical students had a GPA between 3 to 4. The analysis results showed that there was a significant correlation between the academic stress of the medical student and the GPA (p=0.030). Academic stress has a positive correlation with the cognitive function of medical students. The research results are expected to be input for educational institutions to make efforts to accompany and support students in overcoming academic stress.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdulghani, H. M., AlKanhal, A. A., Mahmoud, E. S., Ponnamperuma, G. G., & Alfaris, E. A. (2011). Stress and its Effects on Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study at a College of Medicine in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 29(5), 516–522. https://doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v29i5.8906.

Al Houri, H. N., Jomaa, S., Arrouk, D. M. N., Nassif, T., Al Ata Allah, M. J., Al Houri, A. N., & Latifeh, Y. (2023). The Prevalence of Stress Among Medical Students in Syria and Its Association with Social Support: A Cross-Sectional Study. BMC Psychiatry, 23(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04593-3.

Almarzouki, A. F. (2024). Stress, Working Memory, and Academic Performance: A Neuroscience Perspective. Stress, 27(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/10253890.2024.2364333.

Al-Shahrani, M. M., Alasmri, B. S., Al-Shahrani, R. M., Al-Moalwi, N. M., Al Qahtani, A. A., & Siddiqui, A. F. (2023). The Prevalence and Associated Factors of Academic Stress among Medical Students of King Khalid University: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare (Switzerland), 11(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11142029.

Asif, S., Mudassar, A., Shahzad, T. Z., Raouf, M., & Pervaiz, T. (2020). Frequency of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress Among University Students. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 36(5), 971–976. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.5.1873.

Basith, A., Syahputra, A., Fitriyadi, S., Rosmaiyadi, Fitri, & Triani, S. N. (2021). Academic Stress and Coping Strategy in Relation to Academic Achievement. Cakrawala Pendidikan, 40(2), 292–304. https://doi.org/10.21831/cp.v40i2.37155.

Blum, K. (2025). Neurospirituality Connectome-Role in Neurology and Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS). EC Neurology, 17, 01-25.

Calaguas, G. M. (2011). College Academic Stress: Differences along Gender Lines. Journal of Social and Development Sciences, 1(5), 194–201. https://doi.org/10.22610/jsds.v1i5.644.

Cavagna, G. (2019). Fundamentals of Human Physiology. Springer International Publishing.

Charokar, K., & Dulloo, P. (2022). Self-directed Learning Theory to Practice: A Footstep towards the Path of being a Life-long Learner. Journal of Advances in Medical Education and Professionalism, 10(3), 135–144. https://doi.org/10.30476/jamp.2022.94833.1609.

Dessauvagie, A. S., Dang, H. M., Nguyen, T. A. T., & Groen, G. (2022). Mental Health of University Students in Southeastern Asia: A Systematic Review. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 34(2–3), 172–181. https://doi.org/10.1177/10105395211055545.

Ebrahim, O. S., Sayed, H. A., Rabei, S., & Hegazy, N. (2024). Perceived Stress and Anxiety among Medical Students at Helwan University: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Public Health Research, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/22799036241227891.

Emran, M. G. I., Mahmud, S., Khan, A. H., Bristy, N. N., Das, A. K., Barma, R., Barma, A., & Roy, M. (2024). Factors Influencing Stress Levels Among Students: A Virtual Exploration. European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 6(6), 67-75. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejmed.2024.6.6.2203.

Girotti, M., Bulin, S. E., & Carreno, F. R. (2024). Effects of Chronic Stress on Cognitive Function – From Neurobiology to Intervention. Neurobiology of Stress, 33(January), 100670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100670.

Iqra. (2024). A systematic – Review of Academic Stress Intended to Improve the Educational Journey of Learners. Methods in Psychology, 11, 100163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metip.2024.100163.

Kogler, L., Müller, V. I., Chang, A., Eickhoff, S. B., Fox, P. T., Gur, R. C., & Derntl, B. (2015). Psychosocial Versus Physiological Stress - Meta-Analyses on Deactivations and Activations of the Neural Correlates of Stress Reactions. NeuroImage, 119, 235–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.06.059.

Marin, M. F., Lord, C., Andrews, J., Juster, R. P., Sindi, S., Arsenault-Lapierre, G., Fiocco, A. J., & Lupien, S. J. (2011). Chronic Stress, Cognitive Functioning, and Mental Health. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 96(4), 583–595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2011.02.016.

Melaku, L., Mossie, A., & Negash, A. (2015). Stress among Medical Students and Its Association with Substance Use and Academic Performance. Journal of Biomedical Education, 2015(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/149509.

Mukhalalati, B. A., & Taylor, A. (2019). Adult Learning Theories in Context: A Quick Guide for Healthcare Professional Educators. Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development, 6, 2382120519840332.

Ndoen, D. R., Anakaka, D. L., & Aipipidely, D. (2021). The Description of Stress Levels among Medical Students. Journal of Health and Behavioral Science, 3(3), 321–333. https://doi.org/10.35508/jhbs.v3i3.3461.

Ng, K. C., Chiu, W. K., & Fong, B. Y. (2016). A Review of Academic Stress Among Hong Kong Undergraduate Students. Journal of Modern Education Review, 6(8), 531-540.

NH, A., Noerhidajati, E., & Maesaroh, S. (2019). Perbedaan Fungsi Kognitif Mahasiswa Fakultas Kedokteran Unissula dengan IPK Kurang dari 3 dan IPK Lebih sama dengan 3 Yudisium Tahun 2018. In Proceedings of the ICECRS, 2(1), 293–297. https://doi.org/10.21070/picecrs.v2i1.2383.

Pascoe, M. C., Hetrick, S. E., & Parker, A. G. (2020). The Impact of Stress on Students in Secondary School and Higher Education. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 104–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1596823.

Puspitasari, E. I., & Affandi, G. R. (2024). Pengaruh Stres Akademik dan Cognitive Load Terhadap Motivasi Belajar Siswa. Jurnal Psikologi: Jurnal Ilmiah Fakultas Psikologi Universitas Yudharta Pasuruan, 11(2), 374-388.

Ragab, E. A., Dafallah, M. A., Salih, M. H., Osman, W. N., Osman, M., Miskeen, E., Taha, M. H., Ramadan, A., Ahmed, M., Abdalla, M. E., & Ahmed, M. H. (2021). Stress and Its Correlates Among Medical Students in Six Medical Colleges: An Attempt to Understand the Current Situation. Middle East Current Psychiatry, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-021-00158-w.

Rudland, J. R., Golding, C., & Wilkinson, T. J. (2020). The Stress Paradox: How Stress can be Good for Learning. Medical Education, 54(1), 40–45. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.13830.

Sarmiento, L. F., Lopes da Cunha, P., Tabares, S., Tafet, G., & Gouveia, A. (2024). Decision-Making Under Stress: A Psychological and Neurobiological Integrative Model. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity - Health, 38(August 2023), 100766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100766.

Shahsavarani, A. M., Azad Marz Abadi, E., & Hakimi Kalkhoran, M. (2015). Stress: Facts and Theories Through Literature Review. International Journal of Medical Reviews, 2(2), 230-241.

Smith, M. D., & Wesselbaum, D. (2025). Global Evidence on the Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Stress. Journal of Affective Disorders, 374, 179–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JAD.2025.01.053.

Teh, C. K., Ngo, C. W., Zulkifli, R. A. binti, Vellasamy, R., & Suresh, K. (2015). Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Undergraduate Students: A Cross Sectional Study. Open Journal of Epidemiology, 05(04), 260–268. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojepi.2015.54030.

Zamroni, Hidayah, N., Ramli, M., & Hambali, I. (2018). Prevalence of Academic Stress Among Medical and Pharmaceutical Students. European Journal of Education Studies, 4(10), 256–267. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1321531.

Zhu, X., Yan, W., Lin, X., Que, J., Huang, Y., Zheng, H., Liu, L., Deng, J., Lu, L., & Chang, S. (2022). The effect of Perceived Stress on Cognition is Mediated by Personality and the Underlying Neural Mechanism. Translational Psychiatry, 12(1), 199. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-01929-7.