Stress In College Students

Fortunately for us the human brain and body have been adapting to stress and are now evolved enough to know how to cope properly. Our bodies begin handling stress as soon as it is detected with a “Flight or Fight” response (King, 2014) and determines what to do right away. However, if the stress is too much for the body to handle it may lead to psychical or emotional trauma, which can cause PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now I am not suggesting that college will give you PTSD but, I am allowing insight to what would potentially happen if one gets too stressed out. It would lead not only to PTSD but also eating disorders or sleeping disorders. The best option for dealing with stress in college, in my opinion, is what psychologists call Emotion-focused coping. Colleges today are chock full of stressors, so in the little down time that us students (and teachers) have we must find a way to cope. For example, I personally joined the schools all woman’s choir, and I work out. But if those two things just don’t seem to be right for you that is perfectly alright because there are many other options. Dr. Richard Lazarus and Dr. Susan Folkman determined that there are two ways in which us as

The second strategy for coping with college stressors is rest. Rest is very important if you would like to succeed in college, whether it be taking a nap or getting the recommended 6-8 hours of sleep a night.

Regis College’s number one health concern is stress. The problem has come to be, due to the fact that students come from home, where their parents provided them with guidance, to a situation where they are independent. They have personal responsibility and it may not be completely straightforward for some people. Everyone’s experience is different, but each student experiences stress in some way. The competition for grades, the high expectations, relationships, future career choices, and several other aspects found in the college environment, can lead to stress. Going to college requires changes in daily routine. This includes sleeping adjustments, eating habits, time-management skills, balancing of relationships and several other changes.

In a study at a Midwestern university whose participants varied in age, sex, their year in school, major etc., it was reported that the top four sources that cause stress in college students are from a change in sleeping habits, change in eating habits, the academic challenge of school work, and new responsibilities. Freshman specifically is more prone to this stress because of the new transition into the college lifestyle. Starting out as a freshman and already having a mindset of having too many responsibilities can set up a student to be unsuccessful right off the bat. They are not used to being away from home and being independent. They have never been held to the high

I will use the ideas presented in this video; when I encounter stress in college by making sure I work on my assignments and never put them aside to the last minute. I know many times we as adults are so busy with little time to sleep.

Stress is unavoidable, no matter the situation, location, or time; stress is always present. Stress is found in higher levels during the duration in which students attend college. It is predictably higher among college students, freshmans in particular, because of the extreme expectations set upon them by their parents and, of course, society. The need to please their parents, longing for success in life, and being able to sustain a reasonable income in the future, all of which falls into the hands of college students who are making critical decisions which may decide the outcome for a large portion of their lives. If these students end up hating their future jobs, the stress of having to go back into college to study for a new career

Transitioning from home life to college life is a very stressful time for most students. Stress, unfortunately, is overlooked when it comes to these students. The first year of college is where students face three main obstacles; academics, college life and adaptation.

College is pretty fun, easy, and does not compare to the amount of homework given in high school, so it’s not that stressful. However, that is only for the first couple weeks, before the first midterms. Once the midterms begins, the rest of the term is going to be really stressful, as there is not much of a break in between every midterm, unless you are one of the few who just naturally do really well on every exam by barely studying. Those are people who I “look” up to, I want to be like that one day, pass every exam by barely studying. Anyhow, due to the high amount of stress each of the exams create because of the fact that they are worth the majority of a student's grade, does not make it a fair comparison for many.

With the pressure of completing coursework, paying for school, and trying to enjoy your college experience, sometimes life can feel a little overwhelming to say the least. Between working, schoolwork, and maintaining a social life, it can seem like a daunting task to get everything done without feeling stressed, and we often have trouble maintaining a balanced schedule.

Although is difficult to decide what really causes stress, there are three key strategies that students can use to manage stress levels. Some of these strategies are basic and easy. Something as simple as having a schedule is an effective strategy to reduce stress. Every type of college student is vulnerable to stress. Still, people often debate whether stress is manageable or not. Those who can understand how to manage their work-life balance will have fewer risks to suffer from stress and stress related health issues.

Generalized anxiety is a problem that the United States faces nationwide. As we grow older and move into educational settings that are more taxing, anxiety becomes more prevalent. Today, college students are facing more stress than ever before. They are constantly pushed to be the best they can be, to be in the most extracurricular activities they can be in, and to attend the best schools possible. All of these goals and high expectations lead students to be harder on themselves, which makes other aspects of their life fall by the wayside, leading to high levels of stress and pressure.

Stress is no new phenomenon. It’s been around as long as man and has captivated scholars and physicians alike. With the growing demand for degrees in the professional world comes the growth of the number of college students. The relationship between stress and college students has become the subject of on-going research. Several studies show that stress in college students is increasing with time and the authors of those studies are attributing this to an increased number of students. Other research seems to indicate that it isn’t necessarily the stress that is increasing but the awareness of it. Increased awareness of stress, and its unique toll on individuals, allows colleges and students to recognize

Modern life is full of demands, frustrations, hassles, and deadlines. Everyone experiences stress as it is a natural part of human life. Our bodies have a built mechanism for responding to stress. However, during a certain period of time, people tend to face more stress than usual. One of such periods is college life. It can be very stressful for some people, especially for those who are not used to carrying out with so many responsibilities. Students spend most of their time balancing classes, projects, tests, final exams, personal life, and work; that is enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed. This stress can cause multiples problems, not just emotional, but physicals as well.

There are many causes that contribute to stress. According to one author, "adjusting to college can also cause stress if students feel they are not making personal connections with their peers" (Reed). Relationship stress can be caused by not living up to their partner's or roommates expectation or just plainly by breaking up with someone that they really did care for. Also, it can be caused by an individual liking someone a lot, and the finding that feeling is not mutual. All of these aspects can cause students to feel like they are in way over their heads. Roommate conflicts are also a cause of stress where they have arguments with each other, which cause stress to both parties. Another author states that, "the students are worried about their own college debt and job prospects when they graduate" (Lewin). Finances

Over the years many studies have been conducted to determine what creates stress and how college students can cope with stress. Stressors in a student’s life can be created through personal, educational and social experiences. A student faces many experiences while transitioning from high school, to college, and into adulthood. These experiences include: living arrangements, personal finances, important career decisions, experiences of failure, interpersonal relationships, and personal finances. These stressors involved with daily hassles can create an unhealthy high pressure environment which makes stress for college students inevitable. During one study, researchers found that physical activity throughout a student’s life can increase one’s stress tolerance and positively cope with stressors (Bland, Melton, Bigham, & Welle, 2012).