The relationship between constipation and stress among medical students in Saudi Arabia: A self-reported study

A BSTRACT Objectives: Constipation is affected by a multitude of factors, including mental health, such as stress. Previous literature lacks research that investigates the connection between constipation and stress about medical students. Hence, this study aims to identify the relationship between constipation and stress among medical students in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional research design and was conducted among medical students in Saudi Arabia. Participants completed a structured questionnaire on demographic data, the Perceived Stress scale, and constipation assessed using the Rome IV criteria. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26, with descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression. Results: The sample comprised 54.7% males and 45.3% females, with most participants aged 21-23 years (63.3%). The mean Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) score was 20.9 ± 5.7, indicating moderate stress in nearly three-quarters of respondents. Constipation symptoms were common, particularly straining (46.2%) and incomplete defecation (51.6%). Logistic regression showed that higher stress scores were significantly associated with constipation (AOR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88-0.96, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The study found that medical students perceived stress levels were moderate. Additionally, it found a significant association between perceived stress levels and constipation among the medical students. To counter this, the authors recommend that educators in medical universities in Saudi Arabia teach students problem-focused coping skills so that they can better deal with their stressors.