Perceived Stress In College Students

ABSTRACT

The life of a student in college has always been challenging. Their stress is not just restricted to academics, but could come from various sources such as family conflicts, independent living, financial, health, peer pressure and romantic relationships. In this study 479 undergraduate and postgraduate students were assessed for perceived stress. On the Perceived stress scale, the mean score was 19.36. Female students, students with siblings and those belonging to single parent families or orphans had marginally higher levels of perceived stress. Those students staying with their family and attending college had significantly lower stress scores compared to the other students either staying in the college hostel or outside the college premises on their own or with friends or staying with their relatives and attending college. The ways in which the students cope with stress can have significant short and long term consequences on their physical and emotional health.