Assessing the Impact of Academic Stress on Tension-Type Headache Among Medical Students: Triggers, Remedies and Frequency

Abstract

Tension-Type Headaches (TTH) are common neurological disorders having a significant impact on lifestyle and academic performance of medical students. The purpose of our study is to assess self-reported triggers and relieving interventions of headaches among medical students. Additionally, it evaluates the frequency and severity of headaches and investigates the relationship between medical students’ academic stress levels and TTH. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted from June to November 2024. Probability stratified sampling was employed to gather data online using a previously validated questionnaire which was ethically reviewed by ERC FUMC. Participants in this study included both genders and the age group (>17). Descriptive (frequency, mean, range, variance, SD) and Inferential statistics tests (chi square) were analysed using IBM SPSS26. The sample consisted of medical students [n=201] between the ages of 18 and 24y [ Mean=21y SD ± 3.33]. A total of n=125 [62.2%] females and n=76[37.8%] males participated in this study. Among them, n=144 [71.6%] people reported experiencing headaches at least twice in the preceding trimester. The two most common triggering factors were emotional discomfort n=133 [68.7%] and sleep deprivation n=167 [83.6%]. Paracetamol was the most often used analgesic n=139 [69.5%]. The chi-square test showed that TTH was significantly associated with gender with females reporting a higher incidence (n=98 (48.75%), p=0.006). It was also significantly associated with academic stress (n=125 (62.18%), p=0.000). Tension-type headaches were reported by more than two-thirds of the sample and show a strong significant relationship with sleep deprivation.