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Abstract Stress is a state of an individual that results from the interaction of the individual with the environment which is perceived as threat to the well-being which directly upsets the individual both mentally and physically. University students worldwide are observed to be a high risk group with a prevalence of higher stress level than the general population. The psychological health complaints, symptoms and mental health issues are increasing in severity and number among them. Stress is not only a part of university; but it is a part of every student daily life that can be present routinely at home, school and work. College students are exposed to a considerable amount of stress and stressors; these stressors include academic factors as continuous examinations, foreign language, information overload, time pressure or failure to get high marks. In addition to family problems, challenges to overcome economic hardships, worries about vague futures and societal problems which may affect their life. This study aimed to identify the level of stress among Minia University students and the most common sources of stress among them, also to compare between medical and non-medical students regarding stress level and sources of stress and to find out the cognitive, physical, social and motivational impact of stress on university students. The study is a cross-sectional analytical study conducted among a sample of Minia University students during the period from December 2016 to May 2017 and included 605 students from the third year students of Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Specific Education. Data were collected by a predesigned self-administered Arabic questionnaire which was formed of two parts; part one covering the personal, demographic and socioeconomic data, common sources of stress and common stress symptoms and its impact on students, part two included the Arabic translated version of Cohen perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS). The results of this study revealed that the percentage of stress was high among Minia University students. The percentage of stress was higher among medical students than among non-medical students. Sever stress was found among (18.8%) of medical students compared to (12.4%) among non-medical students. Female gender was significantly associated with moderate and high level of stress among both medical and non-medical students. The results of this study also showed that non-practicing exercise was significantly associated severe stress level among the students that (73.7%) of students who had severe stress didn`t practice exercise compared to (56.6%) of students with mild stress. Academic stressors were the major stressors among the stressed medical students and were found in (84.9%) of them while financial, family, transportation and worrying about future job stressors were more prevalent among stressed non-medical students. The cognitive, social and motivational symptoms of stress were more prevalent among medical students than non-medical students. Academic stressors were significantly higher among female than males among both medical and non-medical students. The significant predictors of stress among medical students were academic stressors, not practicing exercise and being female, while academic stressors and financial stressors were the significant predictors of stress among non-medical students. |