Students experience stress due to the physical, mental, social and emotional demands placed on them on a daily basis. While we all are under a constant state of stress, students can face particularly difficult daily episodes of stress in relation to the unique environment of the school setting. Students who have a basic knowledge of stress and effective stress coping mechanisms will ultimately be better suited to handle the demands of the academic environment.
What Is Stress?
Stress is a response that occurs based on both internal and external demands that are placed upon the body. Stressors are things that actually cause the stress response to manifest in individuals. There can be a number of stressors that can lead to stress in a person's life. These stressors can be divided into several categories and can be be both positive and negative.
Types of Stress
In the textbook "Confusions and Controversies in the Stress Field," author Seyle identifies two different types of stress--eustress and distress. Eustress is defined as a positive stress as it can enhance a person's function. A type of eustress for a student can be graduation. Stress that is persistent and causes negative internal and external consequences is called distress. A type of distress for students can be social pressure to fit in with others.
Physical and Psychological Stress Health Risks
Stress can cause both physical and psychological health risks for a student. In terms of physical health risks, stress can increase the risk of conditions such as heart disease, ulcers, obesity, sleep disorders and diabetes. Psychological health risks include decreased mental alertness, increased anxiety and increased risk of depression.
Emotional and Social Stress Health Risks
Emotional and social health risks of stress can be just as damaging as the physical and psychological health risks of stress. Emotionally, a student can experience unhealthy feelings of frustration, anger, resentment and bitterness. Socially, stress can cause unhealthy behaviors such as isolation or estrangement from family, friends and romantic partners.
Stress-Coping Strategies
As a student there are several ways to cope with the internal and external stresses that are a part of the school setting. In the October 2000 "Research in Higher Education Journal," researchers indicated that students who engaged in problem solving coping for stress were more likely to better handle stress than students who used emotion-focused coping. In another study in the Winter 2001 "Psychology School Quarterly," researchers revealed that seeing school psychologists and interventions by family and peers were effective strategies for coping with student stress.
References
- "Confusions and Controversies in the Stress Field." Selye, H. 1975.
- "School Psychology Quarterly." Students' Stress, Coping Strategies and School Completion: A Longitudinal Perspective. H. Robyn and C. Ellis. 2001.
- "Researcher in Higher Education." An Examination of the Relationship Among Academic Stress, Coping, Motivation and Performance in College. C. Struthers, R. Perry and V. Menec. 2000.
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