Perceived stress, resilience, and academic performance among pharmacy students in Indonesia: A cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Fathul Muin Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8242-3757
  • Anna Wahyuni Widayanti Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  • Maya Ramadhani Indarto Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  • Erviana Dwi Mukharromah Undergraduate Programme, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  • Adysti Wahyu Lestari Undergraduate Programme, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2025.251.401406

Keywords:

Academic performance, Mental health, Perceived stress, Pharmacy student, Resilience

Abstract

Background: This study assessed the perceived stress and resilience of pharmacy students in three Indonesian universities and explored their relationship with academic performance.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25). A self-reported Grade Point Average (GPA) was collected to assess academic performance. Data were analysed using SPSS with Pearson correlation, t-tests, and ANOVA.

Results: A total of 714 pharmacy students participated in the study, representing a 43% response rate from around 1,650 eligible students. Over half were aged 17 to 20, and 86.2% were female. The average PSS score was 21.58 (SD±5.10), while the CD-RISC score averaged 67.93 (SD±14.11). Male students had an average perceived stress score of 20.16 (SD ±5.48), while female students reported a higher score of 21.81 (SD ±5.00). Male students demonstrated greater resilience with an average score of 71.71 (SD±13.98), while female students had a lower score of 67.33 (SD±14.05). Significant differences in perceived stress and resilience scores were observed based on gender, with p-values of 0.003 and 0.004, respectively. Perceived stress and resilience significantly impacted academic performance (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The findings revealed the importance of fostering resilience and addressing stress to support the academic performance and well-being of Indonesian pharmacy students.

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Published

22-06-2025

How to Cite

Muin, F., Widayanti, A. W., Indarto, M. R., Mukharromah, E. D., & Lestari, A. W. (2025). Perceived stress, resilience, and academic performance among pharmacy students in Indonesia: A cross-sectional study. Pharmacy Education, 25(1), p, 401–406. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2025.251.401406

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Section

Research Article