6.3: Common Stressors in College Students
- Page ID
- 113668
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Common Stressors in College Students
College students face a variety of stressors that impact their academic performance, emotional well-being, and social lives. Stress can be categorized as short-term or long-term, and it arises when demands exceed perceived coping resources. Common sources of stress include life events such as financial difficulties, relationship problems, major changes like moving or marriage, and daily hassles like traffic or deadlines.
For students, academic stress is one of the most significant factors contributing to their overall stress levels. High family expectations, teacher expectations, competition with peers, and excessive coursework are leading sources of academic pressure. Family expectations alone were reported to affect over half of the students surveyed in one study, demonstrating the powerful influence of external academic demands.
Social stress may stem from difficulties forming friendships, getting along with family members, or adapting to new social environments. However, research suggests that while social stress affects some students, it is generally less significant than academic stress. Emotional stress, on the other hand, is common and often includes feelings of loneliness, anxiety, low self-confidence, and frustration when life does not go as planned.
Financial stress is another prevalent issue, particularly when students lack financial support, struggle with budgeting, or face insufficient funds for personal expenses. The interconnected nature of stressors means that financial or social challenges can exacerbate academic stress, and vice versa, further impacting students’ mental health and performance.
The Importance of Sleep
Sleep is one of the three pillars of a healthy lifestyle, along with nutrition and physical activity. It plays a key role in physical health, mental performance, and emotional well-being. Yet, many young adults face sleep problems. Over half of college students report poor sleep, and one in four is at risk for a sleep disorder. Stress from moving away from home, adjusting to new classes, and social pressures can make it harder to fall asleep or wake up on time.
Recommended Sleep Duration
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends:
| Age Group | Sleep Hours Per Night |
|---|---|
| 18–60 years | 7 or more |
| 61–64 years | 7–9 |
| 65+ years | 7–8 |
What Makes Sleep “Good”?
Good sleep depends on quality, not just quantity.
Signs of Good Sleep Quality
- Falling asleep within 20 minutes
- Few awakenings at night
- Feeling rested in the morning
Signs of Poor Sleep Quality
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Frequent awakenings
- Daytime sleepiness
How Stress and Negative Thinking Disrupt Sleep
Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that makes your body feel alert. This can disrupt your ability to relax and fall asleep. The way you handle stress matters just as much as the stress itself:
- Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT): Worrying or replaying stressful events before bed keeps your mind racing. This is a common cause of trouble falling and staying asleep.
- Coping with Stress: Dwelling on problems, blaming yourself, or imagining worst-case scenarios (catastrophizing) makes relaxation harder. In contrast, reframing your thoughts in a more positive or solution-focused way can improve sleep.
Stress directly affects sleep, but rumination—replaying worries over and over—can trap you in a cycle of sleeplessness and negative emotions. Breaking the cycle involves managing emotions and changing thought patterns to promote calm and restful sleep.
Understanding and using effective coping strategies can mitigate stress. Positive coping mechanisms, such as meditation, prayer, engaging in hobbies, getting adequate sleep, and talking with supportive family or friends, have been shown to reduce academic stress. Conversely, negative coping strategies like excessive social media use, smoking, and alcohol consumption are less effective and may worsen stress outcomes. Developing healthy coping skills and fostering supportive relationships can significantly improve a student's ability to manage stress and maintain psychological well-being.
References:
- Pariat, Lakyntiew, et al. "Stress levels of college students: Interrelationship between stressors and coping strategies." Journal of Humanities and Social Science 19.8 (2014): 40-46.
- Amaral, Ana Paula, et al. "Sleep difficulties in college students: The role of stress, affect and cognitive processes." Psychiatry research 260 (2018): 331-337.
- 2.6: The Importance of Sleep by Kelly Falcone is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0.