Research Paper. Ben Davis June 1, What are the 5 most stressors for college students? What are the causes of stress on students? Can anxiety affect learning? Can stress affect your intelligence? Finally, there is the rampant use of alcohol and other drugs on many college campuses. If you're struggling with personal issues, the best place to seek help is from your school's counseling center. Family Stress Most students go off to college carrying certain expectations from their families.
The pressure to choose the right major and get good grades can be immense. And if you're the first person from your family to attend college, the stress is even greater. You may also face the stress of family dynamics.
Some students are too dependent on their families -- going home every weekend -- while others seek some distance to grow into the person they want to become. Experts expect family stress to continue, especially with the increasing occurrence of so-called helicopter parents -- those parents usually baby boomers who are so involved in their children's lives that they are in almost constant contact.
If you're struggling with family issues, the best thing you can do is keep in touch with them on a regular basis, but also consider seeking help from your school's counseling center. Financial Stress There's no question that college costs continue to rise, placing increasing pressure on both students and their families to find a way to foot the bill.
There are also a lot of other hidden costs related to college, such as books and school supplies, cell phones, personal care and clothing purchases, items to decorate dorm rooms, social outings, fees for joining various student clubs and organizations, and miscellaneous charges and tickets. Besides the stress of having to have the financial resources to pay all these bills, some college students also work part-time -- either through work-study in college or with a local employer.
Because working hours takes away from studying hours, the need to work also causes stress. If you're struggling with your finances, consider developing a budget and carefully monitoring your money. Journal of College Student Development, 38, Pryor, J. The American freshman: National norms fall The Higher Education Research Institute.
Hanover, MD. American College Health Association. Dusselier, L. Personal, health, academic, and environmental predictors of stress in residence halls. Journal of American College Health, 54 1 , An approach to the measurement of psychological characteristics of college environments. Journal of Educational Psychology, 49 5 : Quick, J. Health consequences of stress. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 8 2 , 19 — Oman, D. Meditation lowers stress and supports forgiveness among college students: A randomized controlled trial.
Journal of American College Health, 56 5 , Dahlin, M. Stress and depression among medical students: A cross-sectional study. Medical Education, , — While someone who periodically faces a difficult academic challenge might be said to experience acute stress, someone who is constantly putting off assignments to the last minute or consistently failing to study for tests will probably experience episodic stress.
Although most of us know stress as a kind of feeling that we get in certain situations, it actually manifests in a variety of symptoms across the body and mind. For college students, stress can crop up in a number of unique situations.
There is plenty of information in popular culture about what a college experience should be. As a result, the average college student may believe that the typical college lifestyle includes going to lots of parties, having numerous friends, playing on a sports team, never having financial problems, and still getting great grades.
These unrealistic expectations for college life can start to stress you out if you apply them to your own experience. The thought of not getting enough sleep by itself might not really stress you out, but sleeping less than seven hours a night can contribute to stress in other areas of your life before you even realize it. Minorities may have specific life experiences that also bring on significant stress or depression, such as exposure to racism and stereotyping.
As a result, navigating social situations may be difficult for minorities, or make them feel they are excluded from college life. This sense of exclusion can make it harder for those students to make friends at school and succeed in their classes. Finishing assignments on-time and doing well on exams are critical parts of the college experience, especially for classes where your grade is determined by just a few papers and exams.
A single exam or paper can cause acute stress, which can actually help you complete the assignment or finish your studying.
However, if you constantly find yourself getting swamped by coursework, then you may be suffering from episodic stress. As we noted earlier, college is getting more expensive, so many students are finding that they need to take on at least one job during the school year to help pay the bills. However, these additional responsibilities can quickly begin to pile up, causing you to have less time for your school work, social life, and sleeping schedule.
However, the best way to deal with stress is often to avoid it completely. If you understand the triggers for stress in your life and how to avoid them or mitigate their effects, then you are well on your way to preventing it. A good support system of family, friends, and even understanding professors can help you to put an end to your stress before it becomes problematic. Think carefully about what might be causing stress in your life and what your options are for avoiding these situations.
Time management is an essential skill in college. By managing your time well and leaving enough time to study and finish assignments, all while leaving room for a social life and sleep, you can avoid stressful situations before they crop up. Keep in mind that many of these situations are caused by not having enough time to keep up with all of your obligations. One facet of time management is knowing when to say no to an obligation. This can be a social function, additional class, or even a romantic opportunity.
By saying no, you can avoid potentially stressful obligations. Sometimes stressful situations are unavoidable. Getting enough sleep is crucial for your emotional well-being.
By getting enough sleep at least seven hours a night for adults , you can actually improve your mental health. More sleep can give you more energy, which could allow you to make it through stressful situations more easily.
Similar to getting enough sleep, a healthy diet can also have far-reaching effects on your outlook and energy levels.
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