Examining the relationship between eating attitudes, perceived stress and coping with stress among medical students

In the current study, the relationship between eating attitudes and perceived stress and coping ways with stress were investigated among medical students. Whether these variables are differentiated according to class levels were also examined. The sample of the study consisted of 200 medical students from 2-3-4-5 class levels at the Medical Faculty of Bursa Uludag University, Turkey. Demographic Information Form, Eating Attitude Test (EAT), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Coping with Stress Scale (CSS) were used. According to the result, there was no difference between eating attitude groups in terms of demographic variables. Abnormal eating attitude group had the mean of social support subscale score compared to normal eating attitude group. Negative correlation was found between problem focused coping subscale and perceived stress scores. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the class levels in terms of avoidance focused coping subscale score. There was also significant difference between clinical groups with regard to avoidance focused coping subscale score. The results are discussed within the scope of the literature. Keywords: Eating attitude, perceived stress, coping ways with stress, medical students.