To examine conflict resolution strategies among medical students in the context of German medical education and their association with perceived stress.
Key Findings:
Students preferred integrative conflict resolution strategies such as collaboration (mean score = 4.2, SD = 0.5) and compromise (mean score = 3.9, SD = 0.6).
Competing was the least preferred strategy (mean score = 2.7, SD = 0.8).
Team conflicts were associated with higher levels of perceived stress (B = 3.670, ß = 0.23, p < 0.001).
A greater tendency to compromise contributed to lower perceived stress levels (B = −5.612, ß = −0.180, p = 0.025).
Interpretation:
Conflict resolution tendencies are associated with perceived stress among medical students, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions.
Limitations:
The study is limited to a specific cohort of medical students in Germany, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.
Conclusion:
Integrating reflective conflict management training into medical curricula may support teamwork competencies and stress reduction, emphasizing the need for further research on the long-term impact of such interventions.
