A Study on Stress among Graduate College Students in Ludhiana

Maneet Kaur¹, Dr. Satinderbir Kaur², Aditya Chauhan³

¹ Ph. D. Scholar in I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, Assistant Professor, Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology. India

²Professor, Ludhiana College of Engineering and Technology. India

³Student, Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology. India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: chauhanaditya084@gmail.com, dr.satinder@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Stress is a psychologic and physiologic imbalance resulting from adverse circumstances. College is probably a best phase of life for students. These crucial years can be undermined by stress and depression. Students are likely to experience stress due to heavy syllabus, new environment, new friends and dealing with myriad of various issues. They also encounter a number of challenges in their life, therefore their whole college life is unveiled by challenges which in turn causes stress and if not dealt with, can hamper their academic performance. The purpose of this paper is to find out the causes of stress among graduate college students. The present study consists of 100 graduate students of Ludhiana. Data was collected through questionnaire which was randomly distributed among college students. The present study reveals that Competition is the biggest reason for stress but others reasons such as family pressure, placement and academics also are major stress inducers. It is concluded that many of the respondents feel it comfortable to talk to their friends or family in case to overcome stress.

KEY WORDS: Stress, Graduate students, Stress sources, Institute support in stress, Stress coping methods.

INTRODUCTION:

Stress is viewed as an unpleasant state of emotional and cognitive arousal that most of the individuals experience in different situations that they perceive as threatening to their well-being. However, stress mean different to different persons. For one it is perceived as a situation that cause person to feel pressure, anxiety and anger while for other individual it is response to existing situation. Which basically include behavioral and physiological changes in a positive way.

Stress among students is a problem faced not only the country like India butall over the globe. Many of the graduate college students now days go through stress like leaving the family, heavy syllabus, pressure to obtain high grades, establish a social life with the cost of college and working at a part time job during the college years. It is often experience that at a crucial stage of development most of the students experiences mental illnesses, high level of depression, anger and stress related other problems. In fact, the distress among college students can also lead to reduce their self-esteem, college dropout, work inefficiency, poor academic performance and suicide. So, it is important for the college to impart essential knowledge, skill and counseling to students in order to minimize their stress level. The study was undertaken to rule out the main causes of stress among graduate college students of Ludhiana and try to find out the measure to reduce the stress.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To identify the causes of stress among graduate college students of Ludhiana.

2. To identify the stress coping mechanism among students.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

Roddenberry and Renk (2010) examined that self-efficacy and locus of control is a mediator of stress and illness of student health services. They found a relationship between a higher level of general and academic self-efficacy and greater overall health and psychological well-being. The study concluded that those who had high levels of stress had low self- efficacy and those who had high external locus of control had high levels of illness.

Rajasekar (2013). The study examined the impact of academic stress among the management students of AMET Business School, AMET University in Chennai. Students have different expectations and values that they want to achieve, which is only possible if they are integrated with that of the college. The study focused on find out the present level of stress, sources of stress and stress management techniques that would be useful for students. The study considered various factors like physical, psychological, individual, demographical and environmental for the research.

Mathew (2014) identifies the symptoms of stress experienced by youngsters of Kottayam District in Kerala state and also suggests the various ways of reducing the stress among youngsters. He identified the best way to manage the students stress and role of faculty members, parents and friends to combating stress.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Research is the study of material, sources of information and data to attain desired results. This paper describes the methodology adopted for conducting the study on stress among graduate students. It also enumerate the description of the sampling plan, research instruments used for the collection of data, pretesting of questionnaire, use of statistical tools for the analysis of collected data. The study has been conducted in the city of Ludhiana.

SAMPLING UNIT:

Graduate students

SAMPLING SIZE:

The sample for the research was 100 graduate students from various colleges

To find the stress among students and coping mechanism a questionnaire were developed.

Data Source:

Data source includes

· Primary data

· Secondary data

Primary data:

In this study the structured questionnaire and survey were used for receiving the primary data

Secondary data:

The information has been acquired from various newspapers, magazine, journals and websites.

Data Analysis:

For data analysis and interpretation, the data were processed with tool like pie charts.

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION:

Q1. Do you feel curriculum has a stressful effect over you?

Table 1

Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	72	72%
No	28	28%

Fig. 1

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 72% of the total respondents agree that academics have a stressful impact while only 28% do not have a stressful impact.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that a major no. of people agree that academics cause stress while less than 1/3 of the total are against it.

Q2.If yes, has you gained/lost weight in last one year?

Table 2

Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	34	53%
No	38	47%

Fig. 2

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 47% of the total respondents agree that they have gained or lost weight while 53% have not a specific effect.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that not many of the respondents did see a visible change in their weight

Q3. What is your current level of stress?

Table 3

Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage
High	50	70%
Moderate	16	22%
Least	6	08%

Fig. 3

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 70% of the total respondents have a high stress level followed by 22% and 6% for moderate and low stress levels respectively.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that a major no. of people are suffering through a high stress and a very small percentage of the total stressed respondents suffers a lower stress level.

Q4. Are you comfortable at your present level of stress?

Table 4

Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	54	75%
No	18	25%

Fig. 4

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 75% of the total respondents agree to be comfortable with current stress whereas 1/4^th of the total are not comfortable with it.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that a considerable no. of people are currently satisfied with their levels of stress.

Q5. Is your course

Table 5

Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Part Time	00	00
Full time	72	100%

Fig. 5

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 100% of the students pursue full time courses

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that all full time courses are particularly the preferred choice for the students.

Q6. Are you able to concentrate in your exams due to stress?

Table 6

Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	42	58%
No	30	42%

Fig. 6

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 58% of the total respondents agree that stress is good for motivation in exams while 42% believe the opposite.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that a major no. of people agree that stress is a motivator for exams.

Q7. As a student what do you think is the major cause of stress?

Table 7

Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Academics	16	22%
Finances	02	03%
Family Pressure	10	14%
Competition	36	50%
Placement Concerns	08	11%

Fig. 7

Analysis:

The above chart shows that half of the respondents feel stress due to prevailing competition which is closely followed by 22% of respondents considering academics as a factor for stress. Placement concerns and family pressure are also cited by some of the respondents (11% and 14% respectively) but only 3% of the students are stressed due to financial conditions.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that competition is the biggest factor contributing to stress followed by academics while the finances are least contributor to the aforesaid.

Q8 Do you get the financial support from your family for your education?

Table 8

Responses	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	72	100%
No	00	00%

Fig. 8

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 100% of the students have their education funded by their family.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that all of the students are financially dependent on their family for financial support.

Q9. Do you have trouble coping with the presentations and assignments?

Table 9

Responses	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	22	31%
No	50	69%

Fig. 9

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 69% of the students feel no difficulty in coping with the assignments and presentations so given but still some do believe to be facing problems while coping with assignments.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that stress does not impact any performance in case of assignments for majority.

Q10. How frequently are examinations held in your college?

Table 10

Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Weekly	00	00%
Monthly	00	00%
Quarterly	00	00%
Half Yearly	72	100%
Annually	00	00%

Fig. 10

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 100% of the students have half yearly exams.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that half yearly or the semester system is being followed in the institutions.

Q11. How difficult is it to find the job of your choice after completing your education?

Table 11

Responses	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Very Difficult	24	33%
Difficult	34	47%
Moderately Easy	10	14%
Very Easy	04	06%

Fig. 11

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 47% of the total finds it difficult to have jobs and just 6% total think it to find the jobs very easily after completion of the course.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that availability of jobs can be a factor for inducing the stress since the percentage of respondents finding it easy to get a job after the completion of their courses is multifold then those who consider it easy to get a job.

Q12. Does your college/institute support you in tackling stress?

Table 12

Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	10	86%
No	62	14%

Fig.12

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 86% of the students have no support from their colleges to tackle stress and only 14% of the total agreesto have a support from their college

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that educational institutions are not so helpful to majority in case of tackling their stress.

Q13. Whom do you contact when you feel most stressed?

Table 13

Responses	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Teachers	10	14%
Parents	20	28%
Friends	22	30%
Counselors	00	00%
Keep it to oneself	20	28%

Fig. 13

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 30% of the respondents confide their stress with friends in case of a stressful situation while 28% prefer parents or to keep it to themselves but none of them go to counselors.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that friends are the majority choice to consult in case of stress while the counselors are least sought for.

Q14. What coping mechanism do you use to reduce stress? (Tick any one)

Table 14

Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Exercise	06	08%
Talk to friends	14	19%
Play Sports	12	17%
Drugs	00	00%
Hobby	10	14%
Yoga	08	11%
Meditation	04	06%
Positive Thinking	08	11%
Listening Music	10	14%

Fig. 14

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 19% of respondents feel talking to friends is a good option for overcoming stress closely followed by 17% choosing sports. Only 6% of the total meditates while 11% of the respondents rely on positive thinking or yoga with none of them taking drugs for overcoming stress.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that of all talking to friends is the most popular choice while none of the total believes into taking drugs.

Q15. Do you think a particular level of stress is good for motivation?

Table 15

Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	34	47%
No	38	53%

Fig. 15

Analysis:

The above chart shows that 53% of the total respondents agree that stress is not good for motivation while 47% believe it to be good for motivation.

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that a major no. of people agree that stress is not a motivator and does closely followed people believe it to be a motivator

Q16. If yes, how does it help in motivation?

Table 16

Response	No. of Respondents	Percentage
Better performance in sport	14	41%
Better performance in studies	18	53%
Maintaining of good relations	02	06%

Fig. 16

Analysis:

The above chart shows that more than half of the total respondents agree to a better performance in the academics while only 6% believe it to maintain a good relationship

Interpretation:

So we can conclude that a major no. of people agree that stress is a motivator for performance in academics followed by 41% believing stress to contribute for sports.

FINDINGS:

1. Stress is highly prevalent in graduation students.

2. Though the level of stress is high in many students but majority of them are comfortable with the stress levels.

3. Competition is the biggest reason for stress but others reasons such as family pressure, placement and academics also are major stress inducers.

4. The students are financially dependent on their family.

5. Very few of the colleges provide any kind of support to students so as to tackle stress.

6. Many of the respondents feel comfortable to talk to their friends or family in case of stress while counselors are least sought for.

7. Talking to friends or playing sports is the most common way of relieving stress but other ways such as yoga, music and meditating are also widely adopted.

CONCLUSION:

It is clear from the findings that college students need more attention. The college should start with the counseling center as well as regular workshops for the students on stress and time management. Student may need reassurance from their role model and someone whom they can trust. Teachers and parents should work together to reduce the stress and enhance the acceptable coping strategy that would help the students to reduce the stress levels and help in promoting a healthy lifestyle.

REFERENCES:

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2. Dennis, J. M., Phinney, J. S., and Chuateco, L. I. (2005). The role of motivation, parental support, and peer support in the academic success of ethnic minority first-generation college students. Journal of College Student Development, pp223–236.

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Received on 01.05.2017 Modified on 23.05.2017

Asian J. Management; 2017; 8(3):628-634.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5763.2017.00100.7