THE LEVEL OF STRESS AMONG STUDENTS: THE ROLE OF ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL FACTORS
THE LEVEL OF STRESS AMONG STUDENTS: THE ROLE OF ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL FACTORS

Summary/Abstract: Students consistently rated their stress levels as moderate, and many psychosomatic complaints such as fatigue, lack of concentration, mood swings, eating disorders, physical pain, depression, restlessness, substance abuse, and even burnout, were reported. This study explores whether academic or personal factors are more strongly associated with perceived stress. A descriptive, cross-sectional, explorative design was used to assess the perceived levels of stress as well as the academic and personal factors associated with stress among students enrolled in a full-time study program in the Limburg area of the Netherlands. The survey included the Perceived Stress Scale-14, the Big Five Inventory, and the Stress Coping Resources Inventory. Data were collected from 107 students to examine academic stressors and their associations with personality traits and stress perception. The findings suggest that academic stressors are more frequently associated with higher perceived stress levels. Additionally, neuroticism as a personality trait appears to be linked with increased stress perception. An unhealthier lifestyle characterised by late sleeping times, lack of physical exercise, substance use, or irregular meals was also associated with higher reported stress levels. Similarly, lower coping skills were correlated with higher perceived stress.

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