Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the influence of social characteristics and self leadership on stress coping method in the dental hygiene students.
Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 436 dental hygiene students in J area from November 10 to December 10, 2013. The questionnaire consisted ofsocial characteristics of the subjects, self leadership, and stress coping method. The reliability was evaluated by Cronbach alpha. Data were analyzed by frequency, one-way ANOVA, multiple regression analysis using the SPSS 12.0 statistical package program. The self leadership was developed by Mans and adapted and modified by Kim and Park. The leadership included 18 questions of self expectation, rehearsal, goal setting, self reward, self criticism, and constructive area. The stress coping method was developed by Folkman and Lazarus, and adapted and modified by Park. The stress coping method included 24 questions of problem focused coping, seeking social support, emotion focused coping, and wishful thinking.
Results: The best stress coping method was wishful thinking and the score was 2.81. The priority order of stress coping method included social support, problem focused coping, and emotion focused coping. The self-expectation, goal setting, self-criticism proved to be highly relevant factors. The explanation power of stress coping method was 29.1 percent. The self expectation, rehearsal, self reward, and self criticism were passive coping methods and the explanation power was 15.4 percent.
Conclusions: The self leadership is the most important factor to fulfill the interpersonal relationship abilities, major satisfaction, and satisfaction with clinical practice. The self leadership leads to stress coping ability.