Introduction
The prevalence of stress among students is high.This can affect negatively their wellbeing. Moreover, a low self-esteem may lead to more serious issues and damage in the long run.
In this study, we tried to explore the eventual links between stress, self-esteem and some personal and social factors.
Methods
We carried out a cross sectional study among 756 students of faculties in Sfax (Tunisia),during the academic year 2017/2018. Each participant filled in a questionnaire which included, among others, thePerceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (SES).
Results
The average age of students was 21.25. Among the participants, 71.3% were women (N= 539).The average scores SES and PSS were respectively 28.22 (SD= 5.693) and 30.15 (SD=5.967).The level of stress was pathological in 72.6% (N=549) of participants.One hundred and sixty seven participants (22.31%) had a very low self-esteem and 308 (40.7%) of them had low self-esteem.
The SES score was not influenced by the following factors: gender (p=0.349),financial situation (p=0.36) and academic performance (p=0.248).
There was a significant difference of SES score according to theinstitution (p=0.015).
The SES score was negatively correlated to PSS score (p<0.01 and r=-0.5)
Conclusion
The majority of students had a pathological stress and a low self-esteem. The more they were stressed, the lower was their self-esteem. A specific training on stress management could be added to the academic program. It is likely to improve both the self-esteem and the level of stress in these students.

07 - PERCEIVED STRESS AND SELF-ESTEEM AMONG THE STUDENTS OF SFAX UNIVERSITY IN TUNISIA