Citation

Lală A, Bobîrnac G, Tipa R. J. Med. Life 2010; 3(2): 200-205.

Affiliation

A. Lală, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8th Eroilor Sanitari Blvd., District 5, Bucharest, Romania. lala.adrian@yahoo.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Carol Davila University Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

20968210

PMCID

PMC3019056

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Since there have been a number of empirical observations that may lead to the conclusion of an increasing rate of risk behaviors in Romanian students, such as aggression, over-competitive conduct and lack of collaboration, immorality, peer pressure and even an increasing rate of suicide, and suicide attempts, we have undergone a study to indentify if there is a high rate of risk type personality patterns that may lead to these deportments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have selected a total number of 500 students from the three largest universities in Bucharest, Romania--"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMF), Bucharest Polytechnics University (UPB), and the Bucharest Academy of Economical Studies (ASE). All subjects received a questionnaire containing four diagnostic tools and several demographics questions. We have chosen the Twenty Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS20), the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS-13) and the Anger-In Questionnaire for type C personality pattern. We have also added the Columbia stress analysis questionnaire for the evaluation of stress levels and coping capacity at the moment the subjects were interviewed. RESULTS: Columbia stress survey results confirm that there is a high stress level among students of all universities, but a more detailed stratification by university, gender and analyzed factor shows a very high F factor and T factor positive responses. Alexithymia, Type A and Type C personality patterns show a much higher prevalence than the general population, especially in medical students. We have found higher frequencies in men for all of the three studied parameters CONCLUSIONS: Approaching alexithymia and type A behavior both by cognitive methods and by assessing and addressing consequential risk factors should become an issue among universities.

Language: en