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Stress, psychological distress, burnout and perfectionism in UK dental students

British Dental Journal volume 229, pages 605–614 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction With an emphasis on good grades and a high level of performance, studying dentistry can be stressful and may attract a greater number of students with perfectionist strivings. Prolonged stress can lead to mental ill-health, including a risk of burnout and psychological distress.

Aims To examine the level and sources of stress, psychological distress and burnout in UK dental students. Perfectionism was also measured to see if dental students showed high levels of perfectionism and how this may relate to psychological outcomes. Finally, coping strategies were assessed.

Materials and methods BDA student members were invited to take part in an online survey using validated measures examining stress (DES, PSS), burnout (OLBI-S), perfectionism (short APS) and coping (brief COPE) in UK dental students.

Results Four hundred and twelve students from all UK dental schools completed the survey. High levels of stress, burnout and psychological distress were found, which generally increased as the course went on. Thirty-five percent of students were identified as maladaptive perfectionists and were shown to exhibit increased levels of stress, burnout and psychological distress, and a greater use of ineffective coping strategies.

Conclusions Stress management needs to be taught as part of the dental education curriculum and should include information about coping strategies, as well as maladaptive perfectionism and how to address this.

Key points

  • Dental students report high levels of stress, psychological distress and burnout during their dental education.

  • Over a third of dental students were classified as maladaptive perfectionists, which was shown to be associated with maladaptive coping and decreased mental wellbeing.

  • Maladaptive perfectionism should be addressed in stress management training offered in dental schools to promote greater mental health and wellbeing.

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Acknowledgements

Thank you to the BDA Trust and the Shirley Glasstone Hughes Trust for funding this research, and all of those who participated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Policy and Research, British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 8YS, UK

    Victoria Collin, Ellena O’Selmo & Penny Whitehead

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  1. Victoria Collin
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Correspondence to Victoria Collin.

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Collin, V., O’Selmo, E. & Whitehead, P. Stress, psychological distress, burnout and perfectionism in UK dental students. Br Dent J 229, 605–614 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-2281-4

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