兩性間自我強度、社會資源與身心健康之相關探討：以某醫學院新生為例

Gender Effect on the Relationship between Ego Strength, Social Resources and Psychosomatic Symptoms: An Exploratory Study on the First Year Medical Students

本研究旨在探討不同性別之醫學院大一新生，其自我強度與社會資源對身心健康的影響。以某醫學院學生輔導組，1990至1994年間針對入學新生所進行身心問題問卷調查之結果，進行次級資料分析。結果發現，3,213份有效問卷中包括有男性1,903名，女性1,310名。其中，1.女性、低自我強度以及低社會資源者，出現有較多的身體與心理症狀；2.女性身體症狀之多寡較不受自我強度與社會資源的影響，但男性則不然；3.不論男性或女性，心理症狀之多寡則明顯地與自我強度及社會資源關聯。以上發現顯示，不同之性別將可能會透過不同的因應方式，進而對身心健康狀態形成不同的影響。研究者建議，將來應以更為嚴謹的研究方法來探討兩性調適壓力的內在機轉，並尋求發展適合兩性個別化之諮商輔導。

Objectives. This study explores the role of gender in the stress-coping process in terms of ego strength and access to social resources, and the subsequent psychosomatic outcomes, among the freshmen of a medical school. Methods. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed for the consecutive years 1990-1994 to all freshmen by the student counseling center. Psychosomatic symptoms experienced during the previous two weeks were measured , as well as ego strength and social resources. Results. Among the 3,213 students recruited for this survey, 1,903 were male and 1,310 were female. The most commonly reported somatic symptoms were fatigue, acne, coughing, diarrhea, and headaches. However, susceptibility to nervousness, problems with time management, unsubstantiated fear, unsatisfactory academic performance, and irritability were the most commonly reported psychological symptoms. Females were more likely than males to report somatic and psychological symptoms. Psychological and somatic symptoms were significantly associated in bivaritate analysis with ego strength and access to social resources. Higher scores on both measures were associated with fewer psychological and somatic symptoms. The reported number of somatic symptoms was not affected by either ego strength or social resources for females, though it was for males. There was no difference between males and females in the relationship between psychological symptoms and intermediate stress-coping variables-ego strength and social resources. Conclusion. The study revealed that male and female freshmen cope differently with stress and its concomitant psychosomatic consequences. These findings are significant in efforts to build the theory and strategy of the student counseling program.