College Stress: Its Common Causes

Stress Management | November 24, 2009

The various reasons for college stress

Nearly all college students encounter stress. College stress is one of the reasons that a low percentage of students actually go on to graduate. What could be the reasons behind these alarming stress levels? The ones mentioned below are some of the most common:

Academic Pressure
The hard work that studies demand at college is more significant than in regular schools and high schools. The primary reason for this is lack of material for study from teachers. Parental support is also found lacking. Classes are often difficult to comprehend. Challenging modules, lack of time, and tests difficult to crack add to the woes of the students. College studies require a lot of research from the student’s end and every student must be committed in putting in that extra effort. All these mean that the student has to spend more hours with books.
Peer group pressure
Peer group pressure is common in college, especially among the new students. The sudden lack of parental support and neighborhood friends would create a huge vacuum in a student’s life. Therefore, developing a new group of friends is crucial for filling in this vacuum. Homesickness is another factor that worsens the fragile frame of mind of a young college student. Finding a suitable roommate, managing social life and academic life, getting into intimate relationships, and sometimes even striking a balance with part-time jobs can be challenging and demanding, each bringing its own element of stress.
Miscellaneous Stressors
There are other umpteen stressors that can crop up in college life. Most students do not organize the time at hand. Therefore, the entire routine of reaching class on time, managing studies, and finding the time for socializing goes for a toss. Logistics are involved in independent living and these can get stressful. For instance, managing one’s laundry or insurance claims can be potential stressors. Homesickness is common among the new students, whereas those in their final year find it hard to decide the subject in which they will major. Most students are faced with an identity crisis and deciding on long-term goals.

The effects of stress

What are the effects of stress on students? Every individual has a unique way of coping with stress. The stress that college students face ranges from mild to acute. Following are the general effects that stress has on students:

General experiences when stressed out
With college stress comes numerous overwhelming situations. Trying to strike a right chord between academics and social life can lead to students taking to alcohol or might conversely lead to a never-ending quest for perfectionism.
Weight worries
College students always find weight a serious issue to deal with. Stress accompanied by peer group pressure and other practical problems result in students’ worries over weight. Whereas some gain ten to twenty pounds, others lose by the same margin. Eating disorders are to blame in both instances.
Early dropout rate
A shocking statistic is that nearly fifty percent of American students who enroll in regular college do not finish their graduation. According to a census carried out by the US authorities, six out of ten high school students enroll themselves for regular college. Of these only twenty-nine percent of students aged twenty-five and above held a bachelor’s degree. Although financial troubles and other social factors influence those numbers, the role that stress plays cannot be ruled out.

Owing to the above mentioned factors and the fact that college is meant for healthy, all-round, it is important to ensure that stress does not get out of control. This article on ways to de-stress at college will enable with tools and information to ensure that the years you spend in college are the ones you will cherish for your entire life.