RELIGIOUS COPING, PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to analyse the relation between religious coping, perceived social support and psychological distress in medical students. The study's sample consisted of 200 medical students (N=200), 83 men(n=83), and 116 women (n=116) of age 18-25 (M=21.91, SD=1.81). A correlational design was employed in the study. Self-report measures such as the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10: Kessler et al., 2002), the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE: Pargament et al., 2011), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS: Zimet et al., 1988), and demographics were used to test the study variables. The results demonstrated that negative religious coping had a positive correlation with psychological distress whereas, perceived social support had a negative correlation with psychological distress. Furthermore, perceived social support was a substantial negative predictor of psychological distress, religious coping (negative) was a significant positive predictor. Perceived social support did not moderate the relation between religious coping and psychological distress. The study highlighted that students could receive useful support to help them deal with academic pressure by setting up a peer monitoring program.