A Hospital-Based Assessment of the Effect of Perceived Stress on the Leukocyte Profile of Healthy Young Adults between the 18 to 21 Years of Age Group

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Abstract (English)

Abstract
Aim: The present study was planned and carried out with the aim to study the effect of perceived stress on the
leucocyte profile of healthy, young adults.
Methods: A prospective study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Nalanda Medical College,
Patna, Bihar, India, on 1st Prof MBBS students, aged 18 to 21 years, before and during their 1st semester
examination. The study procedure and objectives of the study were explained to the students. Participation in
the study was solely on a voluntary basis. All 50 students gave written informed consent to take part in the
study.
Results: In response to how frequently they felt nervous or stressed during the last month, 20 subjects
responded “Sometimes” and an equal percentage responded “Often/Always”. Based on the PSS scores, the
students were grouped as “Not stressed” (PSS score 1-10), “Mildly stressed” (PSS score 11-20), “Moderately
stressed” (PSS score 21- 30) and “Severely stressed” (PSS score 31-40). None of the study participants had PSS
score greater than 30. 27 subjects were found to be mildly stressed and 18 students were moderately stressed.
For each group of study participants, the average N:L ratio was calculated. The Pearson correlation coefficient
(r) was calculated to study the relation between the PSS score and the relative percentages of the different
leukocytes as well as the N:L ratio. A positive correlation was found between the PSS score and percentage of
neutrophils, monocytes and N:L ratio. A negative correlation was found between PSS score and percentage of
lymphocytes, eosinophils and basophils.
Conclusion: Examinations in medical school are stressful enough to produce changes in heart rate, blood
pressure and differential leucocytes counts although all the students were in good health status.