© January 2022| IJIRT | Volume 8 Issue 8 | ISSN: 2349-6002

A Study on Stress Management Among Student

Community

Dr Bagappa Chalawadi
Assistant professor of psychology, Government college (autonomous) Kalburgi Karnataka

Abstract - Stress is an irritating condition where excess of also reduce student stress and improve test
work and overload which reduces the concentration and performance by imagining them achieving their goals.
the normal working condition of any person. Generally, Students are very likely to experience some or many
stress is defined as a person’s psychological and
stressors which may test their ability to cope: adapting
physiological response to the perception of a demand or
to anew environment, balancing a heavy work load,
challenge. Students are most frequently affected by
stress due to their academic life. Students face various making new friends, becoming more independent, and
challenges and a whole lot of pressure in today’s dealing with myriad of other issues. A questionnaire
competitive environment. Students need to be trained in comprises of demographic information, set of
handling stress. This study mainly focuses on the stress questions on academic, social, family, emotional and
management of students. This will help in understanding financial stressors and the statements on positive and
the symptoms, sources and effects of stress among the negative stress coping strategies. The major sources of
student community. stress found out in through the study have a direct
relation with the stress level of students .
Index Terms - Physiology, Psychology, Stress, Student,
Sathya Devi (2015) and Shaj Mohan).Khan et., all
Workload.
defined the study aimed at the level of stress in male
INTRODUCTION
and female school students and the researcher
randomly selected 64 school students aged between
A critical issue concerning stress among students is its
14-18 years. To collect the data, researcher used
effect on learning. Student life has many benefits, but
students stress scale (SSS) developed by Dr. Zaki
it also imposes inevitable stresses. For those who are
Akhtar (2011). During collection of data researcher
already battling depression or have an existing
used means and method fit for this scale. The result of
vulnerability to it, these stresses can trigger anxiety
the study showed boys having much more stress in
and episodes of depression. Academic pressure related
comparison to girls. The study concluded that
stress has been identified as one of the prime types in
schoolboys are more stressful than schoolgirls.
the Stress in student learning process. It is undoubtedly
D'Zurilla and Sheedy (1991) college students,
one of the biggest problems faced by the modern
especially fresher, are prone to more stress due to their
student force. It is also becoming an escalating nerve-
transition from home to college life. Ross et al., (1999)
racking problem for both teachers and students.
argues that most of the students are stressed because
of some compulsory adjustments viz. 1. Being away
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
from home for the first time, 2. Maintain high
academic achievement, and 3. Adjust to a new social
According to Nivethita and Rita (2016),The aim is to
environment. Besides these, a student also encounters
identify the sources of stress and its effect on students
a pressure to earn good grades (Bunn et al., 2007).
‘life and the topmost stress symptoms’ through
Excessive homework, unclear assignments,
ranking. It mainly focuses on issues like identifying
uncomfortable classrooms (Frazer and Kohn, 1986),
causes, symptoms, and outcome of stress in students’
assessment deadlines (Misra and Mckean, 2000),
community. Students need to be trained in handling
relations with faculty members, time pressures (Sgan-
stress. Finally, most students find that eustress is a
Cohen and Lowental, 1988), financial pressures,
positive aide in school. Certainly, too much stress
relationship with peers, opposite sex, family and
causes some students to freeze during exams. This will

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friends (Wright, 1967), new eating and sleeping The main objective of this study is to identify the
habits, loneliness and bleak future career prospects are sources of stress and its effects on students’ life.
other stressors identified by researchers. An issue • To identify the various symptoms of stress
associated with study load related stress is the fear of experienced by the students
failure. Gender differences surface quite naturally in • To identify the topmost stress symptoms through
the area of stress. Depression is considered to be a ranking
greater problem among women than men. The • To rank the destructive reaction of students’ stress
American Psychiatric Association (2000) reported that • To suggest recommendations to minimize the
women experience depression twice as often as men. students’ stress
These differences arise perhaps on account of
increased family pressures experienced by women as What is Stressful for Graduate Students?
against men. The accelerated growth in undergraduate programs
In Indian society colleges, poor infrastructure and has also been felt in graduate schools, resulting in an
faculty, adds on to the stress in the students. On oversupply of Ph.D.’s. Consequently, graduate
account of these push factors; those who are more students, facing poor employment opportunities when
academically inclined often opt to pursue higher they finish their doctoral programs, feel stress
education outside India. This has resulted in brain associated with the uncertainty of their career choice
drain (Shah, 2001). In the test site in India, parents and future prospects. Often, graduate students
should realize that their children should seek a course perceive that faculty exert great power over their lives
and career according to his or her liking and aptitude and feel that they live in a state of substantial
and not select them based on social or family powerlessness. Another source of stress is the
pressures. Professional education, namely difficulty of achieving social intimacy. It is difficult to
engineering, medicine or management degree, is an find a mate or maintain a relationship with an existing
important component in the overall education system one. Graduate students tend to lack the time and/or the
in India. Obtaining such a professional degree is opportunity to develop interpersonal relationships.
regarded as very prestigious amongst the middle Specific tasks that produce stress in graduate students
classes (Agrawal and Chahar, 2007). are preliminary exams and the doctoral dissertation.
Schafer (1996) describes fear of failure as natural and Fear of academic failure related to these tasks is a
capable of motivating an individual to prepare and definite stress or. Solutions for alleviating distress
perform well. However, at times it can become so include improved orientation for new graduate
extreme that it can create unnecessary emotional and students, more flexibility in core requirements, and
physical distress, a feeling that he/she cannot cope expanding the role of faculty advisors.
with the perceived situation. Students too experience
similar fear of failure with study load related stress. Various Forces of Student Stress:
Majority of the students are resilient and therefore are However; stress can also be a positive force. It can
able to tackle these stresses. They are therefore able to stimulate hard work and amplify the focus for short
accomplish their academic goals. Some students periods of time. However, negative stress is more
experience difficulty in adjusting to college social common and can adversely affect the health and
network and are stressed due to poor interpersonal performance.
relationships with their peers and teachers (Hughes et
al, 2006). Survival stress: This may occur in cases where
Also, students come from a homogeneous cultural survival or health is threatened, where students are put
background into a heterogeneous and diverse under pressure, or where they experience some
population with diverse socio-cultural backgrounds. unpleasant or challenging event. Here adrenaline is
This causes them uneasiness and stress (Clift and released in the body and the symptoms for 'fight or
Thomas, 1973). flight' will boom in their body.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

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Internally generated stress: This can appear from moment. Even if a student is free from his home, still
brooding about events beyond their control, from an the stress can attack on the students.
apprehensive, hurried approach to life, or from
relationship troubles caused by their own behaviour. Turning Distress into Eustress: Turning distress into
Environmental and situational stress: The source of eustress, is another important path by virtue of which
stress here is living or environment which they are you can unlock the door of stress management. Any
living. It may arise from blare, crowding, pollution, student can be a victim of stress and they believe they
muddle, dirt or other distractions. On the other hand, can do nothing but suffer. So, in order to manage the
stress can come from events and pressures at studies. stress what they require is they have to learn how to
Fatigue and overwork: Here stress builds up over a turn a potentially negative response to stressors into a
long period of time. This can transpire where you try positive response. The term eustress exactly mean that
to accomplish too much in too little time, or where you the beneficial stress is what carries an excited, happy
are not using effective time management strategies. couple through the whirlwind of preparation for a
large wedding. And It begin from the moment of the
Stress Management Keys: proposal, the couple may be surrounded by stressors.
There are certain ways which will open the door to
better stress management among students in Academics: Academic pressure can be distress if it is
universities. However, some of them are used very allowed to become such. Through stress management,
frequently but others are lost or neglected. however, it can be eustress that urges to greater
accomplishments. In this case, stress management for
Clear Definitions: For effective stress management students’ demands building on academic successes.
every student needs to understand the definitions of Awarding peak performance can encourage greater
“stressor,” “stress,” “eustress,” and “distress. If they academic excellence.
are unable to clarify the meaning of those words, they
may be trying to manage stressors, thinking they are Environment: The school environment can be a
managing stress. The stress management can begin distress if students are left to handle it on their own.
only after they understand that the extra demands Planned activities geared toward initial adjustment,
made upon them are stressors, not stress. If they want and intermittent periods of relaxation can go far
to know well about the stress management practically, toward introducing eustress into your stress
they will need to know that there are two kinds of management for students.
stress. So, if you understood the word properly, you
have unlocked the first door leading to stress Extracurricular: Many students naturally seek out
management. extracurricular activities and find them a source of
eustress. Others feel pressured to engage in them and
Action Plan: Once the students understood the suffer distress instead. Stress management for students
definitions of those words properly, students are ready requires careful selection of activities, and balance
to formulate a stress management action plan. Also, among these activities, school life, family life, and
they are eligible for the proverbial locking of the barn part-time jobs. Peers: Peer pressure can be a source of
door to prevent the horse’s escape. eustress or distress, depending on how readily students
give in to it. Students who want stress management
Stressor Identification: Learn to identify the enemy, is will want to establish firm convictions and stick to
the most important part of stress management. A them.
student who is very much focused to beat the stress,
will see stressors and know them for what they are. Time Management: Stress management for students
Hence the key is to identify those demands as must address scheduling, since a lack in this area can
stressors. Stress can come in any form like; sharing a impinge on most or all other areas of a student's life.
room with a stranger makes demands on a student. Easier for some, than for others, a habit of carrying a
Financial resources and potentially new dating daily planner and adhering to it can drain away, cause
standard is also a form of stress and it can come at any much of the distress.

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