The Effects of Stress on College Students
By: Bliss Aguirre
What is classified as stress?
According to Dr. Gillian Butler, a fellow of the British Psychological Society and funding
member of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, stress can be defined in three ways.
1. Stimulus-based
This definition shows stress to be caused by external pressures, where an individual
who is loaded with duties and pressures reaches a point where they cannot take
anymore ("breaking point").
2. Response-based
This definition bases stress as a measure of one's physiological response to "aversive
stimuli". Such a response is shown to occur typically in three stages of alert, resistance,
and exhaustion.
3. Dynamic Process
This definition states that stress is a relationship between the person and their
environment, in which their individual circumstances and the perceived demands upon
them contribute to the level at which their personal well-being is affected.
Types of Stress College Students Deal With
1. GPA/Grades
College students constantly deal with the pressure of having to maintain a good GPA,
get involved in extracurriculars and declare a major. There is this idea that a student should
enter college already with a game plan ready to go for the next 4+ years of their life, but
that is far from realistic. In reality, college encompasses the formative years for students,
where they should be able to explore different avenues and take their time with decisions
like this. Since colleges are not formatted that way to give students the time necessary to
explore before having to take prerequisites, students are left to make haste decisions,
choosing a major they may not even want in order to fulfill requirements. The hassle to
change a major and take more classes puts an unnecessary burden on students. The idea
of having to be the best is incredibly toxic and exhausting.
2. Social Anxiety
College students, already stressed with their classes and workload are provided with an
additional burden to make new friends, enter new social circles and combat loneliness.
Many college students are pressured to fit in and make strong bonds with peers, which can
prove to be difficult as a student. With classes, extracurriculars and studying, what time
is left to dedicate to a social life?
3. Financial Burdens/Worries
College is far from cheap! With the price of tuition increasing every year, affording a
college education increasingly proves to be more difficult. Without scholarships or
adequate financial aid, full time and part time students are left to pick up one, two,
sometimes multiple jobs just to make ends meet. This causes the stress of constantly having
to worry about having enough money to eat, live, and go to school. This doesn't even begin
to address student parents or students who provide for their families, who are loaded with
an additional burden to maintain a quality life for their families. These worries and burdens
are immensely stressful, adding to the already existing pressures a college student faces.
Stress just seems inevitable?!
How Does Stress affect a College Student?
Physical Effects
- Low energy
- Headaches
- Stomachaches and nausea
- Insomnia
- Chest pains
- Frequent colds/illnesses
- Shaking or sweating hands
Psychological Effects
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Difficulty with concentration/focus
- Difficulty with self-esteem and self-image
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| This image is from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). |
According to a 2018 report by the American College Health Association, more than 60%
of college students said that they had "overwhelming anxiety". This study also states that
more than 40% of college students have said their depression affects their ability to function.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), 85% of
students reported having experienced a time where they felt completely overwhelmed by
everything, which is backed by the 41.6% of students who experience anxiety and claim
it to be a major concerning factor in their lives.
The real life implications of stress are manifested in various psychological and physical issues.
College students are dealing with large loads of obligations, duties, and responsibilities that can
easily overwhelm them and cause these negative physical and psychological effects to occur.
Anxiety and depression are at an all time high among students, who are pushed to their mental
limits by these stresses, forcing them to revert to dark mind spaces and places that can consume
them.
College students already sacrifice so much, there is NO need to sacrifice one's mental and
physical well-being!
HealthyWays to Manage Stress
1. Exercise is a wonderful way to deal with
stress. Exercising is a sure way to increase
your endorphin levels, which is known to
brighten your mood and make you feel
more at ease. Exercising can take various
forms such as running, playing sports, yoga,
swimming, etc.
2. Eating right is a great way to manage your
stress levels because a healthy diet can do
wonders for your blood sugar levels and your
blood pressure.
3. Meditating/relaxing is a wonderful way to
not only ease your mind but also your body.
4. Finding a Hobby is a great way to have fun
and take your mind off of the stress and pressure
you may be experiencing.
Why this Issue Matters and What It Means To Me
The issue I highlighted in this blog was the stress that college students face, in particular the effect of stress on their physical and mental wellbeing. This involves the stress from their course load, to their extracurricular activities, family responsibilities, jobs, and personal problems.
This issue is important to my community, CSULA, because the students here are juggling a lot of different responsibilities on their plate. This requires them to split up their time in so many directions, that they often sacrifice their mental and physical health in order to meet those demands. This results in such detrimental effects on these students, that are stuck in a vicious cycle.
This issue is important to me because I can relate to it. As a full-time college student at CSULA, I am constantly dealing with stress. I used to let the stress affect my help, leaving me exhausted, groggy, and depressed. That was until I found healthy ways to cope with my stress. I made sure that when I was feeling really stressed out, I would take a break, go outside, go for a walk or exercise. Sometimes, even just showering can help you clear your mind.
This issue is important and will continue to be important because with the current level of stress and pressure that college students deal with, it is important for them to understand how it can negatively affect them so that they can find healthy ways to alleviate the stress. The mental and physical well-being of students is paramount.
Citations
“Ashford University.” Effects of Stress on College Students & How to Combat It | Ashford University, 1 Oct. 2018, www.ashford.edu/blog/student-lifestyle/the-effects-of-stress-on-college-students-ways-to-overcome-it.
Butler, Gillian. Definitions of Stress. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2560943/pdf/occpaper00115-0007.pdf.
Wolverton, Brad. “As Students Struggle With Stress and Depression, Colleges Act as Counselors.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 21 Feb. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/education/learning/mental-health-counseling-on-campus.html.
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