EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

Instructor Name:
Muhammad Irfan
Course Name:
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
Course Code:
SSC101

GROUP MEMBERS:
Hassan Raza Shad (14938)
Yusra Zaffar (14762)
Arbish Khan (14841)
Urooj Vohra (16352)
Syed Nasir Ali Shah (14516)
SECTION: A

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

DEDICATION
We dedicate our research work to the students of IOBM who were quite
helpful while conducting the research on the Effects of Stress on Students
Academic Performance, Health & Social Lives. They took out their precious
time for our research work by filling the questionnaire during their busy
schedules of studies. We especially thank those students who were part of
our study and helped us during the research.

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION...............................................................................................................2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT................................................................................................4
ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................5
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................6
LITERATURE REVIEW:.............................................................................................9
RATIONALE OF STUDY:.........................................................................................10
METHODLOGY..........................................................................................................11
SAMPLING DESIGN:..............................................................................................11
DEFINITION OF POPULATION:...............................................................................11
SAMPLING FRAME:................................................................................................11
SAMPLING UNIT:....................................................................................................11
SAMPLING TECHNIQUE:........................................................................................11
SAMPLE SIZE:.......................................................................................................11
PROCEDURE:..........................................................................................................11
DATA COLLECTION:..............................................................................................12
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH:...............................................................................12
SURVEY RESEARCH:..........................................................................................12
DATA ANALYSIS:....................................................................................................12
RESULTS..................................................................................................................13
DISCUSSION.............................................................................................................19
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................21
REFERENCES...........................................................................................................22
APPENDIX.................................................................................................................24

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to take the opportunity to special thank to our course co-coordinator Mr.
Muhammad Irfan who is an excellent teacher and with his easy going teaching
methodology he has helped us to understand such concepts which we could not have
otherwise.
His support and guidance combined with professional knowledge and excellent
communication skill made it possible for us to complete this report. His views and
thought provoking idea helped us to take more interest in the report and also boost our
confidence.
We would also like to thanks the IoBM respondents who took part in our survey.
Above all, we want to thank the Almighty ALLAH who has blessed us with uncountable
blessings.
Regards
Hassan Raza Shad
Arbish Khan
Yusra Zaffar
Syed Nasir Ali Shah
Urooj Vohra

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

ABSTRACT
The purpose of writing this report is to know that either the stress exists in the
students of or not. If it exists then what are the EFFECTS OF STRESS ON OUR
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, health and social lives of students. Stress was taken as

independent variable and academic performance, health and social lives as

dependent variable. The sample frame used for this report were students of IOBM,
sample units were male and female students of IOBM, sampling technique used for
this report was non-probability (random sampling) and sample units were 20
respondents. To accomplish the goal we did exploratory research in that we collected
data from internet and in survey research questionnaire was filled by students. Our
questionnaire was filled just in 2-3 days. The questionnaire was filled by the 10 male
and 10 female students of IoBM and their ages were between 18-25 years. Their CGPA
were between 2.3-3.54 and they were studying in between 1-8 semester. The data
gathered through questionnaires has been statistically analyzed. We used percentages
to evaluate the results. Tables and pie charts were made to tabulate the results.

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

INTRODUCTION
Stress, simply put, is the feeling of being in too much emotional or mental pressure.
These various physiological and mental pressures turn into stress when stress
management techniques fail. Stress affects every individuals way of life; stressed out
people show symptoms such as sleeping problems, sweating, loss of appetite and
concentration difficulty to show that they are under stress.

DEFINITION:
Stress can be defined as:
A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or
demanding circumstances.1
OR
Stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that
demands exceed that demands exceed the personal and social resources the
individual is able to mobilize.2
TYPES OF STRESS:
In psychological point of view there are two types of stress 3.
a) Eustress
b) Distress

2
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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

EUSTRESS (POSITIVE STRESS):

Stress that is claimed to be healthful or giving one the feeling of
fulfillment4
Positive cognitive response that creates healthy stress that increases potential and
generates positive feelings and attitudes.5 6 Such stress helps in performing tasks
faster and better and our body starts to function more efficiently. For example: playing
sports or watching a movie creates eustress or positive stress.
DISTRESS (NEGATIVE STRESS):
Negative cognitive response followed by a failure of the stress management
mechanisms to fail in managing the stress, leading to negative changes in emotional
and physiological functioning. Distress causes the following symptoms: emotional
(anger, frustration), Physical (headache, back pain), Intestinal or Gut (heartburn,
stomach cramping) and arousal (sudden rise in blood pressure or dizziness)

Distress periods are variable, lasting for shorter to longer intervals

Types of distress, according to time intervals include7:

Acute distress
Acute episodic distress
Chronic distress

ACUTE DISTRESS:
Acute distress is usually short-lived; it comes and goes quickly and is the most strong
in nature, as compared to others. It is the reaction to an immediate threat which is
known as Flight or Fight Response.8 The threat can be any situation, even
subconsciously, as emergency. After the threat has passed, the stress hormone levels
return to normal and this is called relaxation response. Common Acute Stressors
include noise, isolation, hunger, danger etc
ACUTE EPISODIC DISTRESS:

4
5
6
7
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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

It is a situation in which acute stress seems to be a way of life, with life being
continuously bombarded with one stressful event after another. People who experience
such stress may be seen as abrupt, insensitive and irritable to other people. Those
with acute episodic distress may have a never-ending to-do list and may have trouble
saying no in decisions.

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

CHRONIC DISTRESS:
Stress arising out of long lasting events and circumstances in which the individual is
helpless to counteract the stress. Modern life events pose stressful situations that are
not short-lived. The urge to act (fight or flee) must then be controlled if it is not control
then it will become chronic distress. Examples of common chronic stressors include:
ongoing highly pressured work, financial crises, relationship problems etc.
SIGNS AND SYMPOTOMS OF STRESS:
COGNITIVE
Poor
judgment
memory
problems
anxious
poor
decision

EMOTIONAL
isolation
short temper
depression
moodiness

PHYSICAL
constipation
dizziness
aches and
pains
rapid increase
in heartbeat

BEHAVIORAL
sleeping
disorders
eating more
or less
nail biting
use of
drugs,
cigarettes,
alcohol etc

CAUSES OF STRESS:
Causes of stress might be external or internal.

EXTERNAL CAUSES OF STRESS

Financial problems
Relationship
Job problems
problems
Family problems

Busy schedule
Work load

INTERNAL CAUSES OF STRESS

Negative talk to
ourself

Perfectionism in
work

Pessimism

Lack of
assertiveness
Inability to accept
the reality

Expectations from
others

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

VARIABLES:
This research contains tow variables

Independent variable
Dependent variable

Independent variable:
Stress was taken as independent variable.
Dependent Variable:
Academic performance, health and social lives/activities were taken as dependent
variables.

LITERATURE REVIEW:
According to Stimulus Model of Stress a person is under stress when they are under
a lot of pressure to handle things. 9 A person can cope up with a certain limit of stress
but once the elastic limit is reached, where a person can no longer deal with its stress
and as a result stress damages the person.
The other model that Marks (2005) discusses in his Interaction Model of Stress is
that stress occurs when a person feels that he/she cannot manage or handle things
and is unable to meet the demands as he/she perceives they dont the resources to
deal with it.10
A research was held by Laura P.Womble, from University of North Carolina at Charlotte
with a name of Impact of Stress Factors on College Students Academic Performance.
In this research, they find correlation between a students amount of perceived stress
in a given semester and that same semesters GPA. Students were asked to fill the
survey along the demographic information which includes age, gender, grades of prior
semester. The students were asked to read a list of possible stress factors and rank
them in order of their importance. The surveyed students ranked number 1 to not
9
10

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

getting enough sleep, ranked number 2 to social activities and lastly working a part
time job to rank number 3.11
A study was held among pre-science students in Uitm Negeri Sembilan with a name
Stress and Academic Performance. Purpose of this research was to find the
difference in the level of perceived stress among the students at the start, middle and
end of the semester. They find the correlation between level of stress at start, middle
and end of semester on the academic performance. They also find factors of stress.
When data was gathered, they find out that students did experience the stress but at

moderate level. There was difference between the level of stress at the start and middle
of semester but they cannot find the difference between at the middle and end of
semester. And there was no correlation between level of perceived stress at the start
and middle semester with academic performance but they find a correlation between
level of stress at the end of semester.12
Both the models and research works are relevant to our study because it tells there is
a limit of stress that a person can handle and if it crosses that limit then stress affects
the mental, physical, academic performance, social activities of a person. There is a lot
of pressure on a student due to his/her studies, exams, assignments, financial
problems, relationship with families, friends etc. Our research will tell how the stress
affects the academic performance, health and social lives of a student.

RATIONALE OF STUDY:
The purpose of writing this report is to know that either the stress exists in the
students of Institute of Business Management or not, If yes then what are the
EFFECTS OF STRESS ON OUR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, health and social lives of
students.
In order to check that either stress exists in the students of Institute of Business
Management or not, following are the hypothesis of this study:
H1: Stress affects the academic performance of students.
H2. Stress affects the health of students.
H3: Stress affects the social lives of students.

11

12

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

METHODLOGY
SAMPLING DESIGN:

DEFINITION OF POPULATION:
The population used for this report is male and female students of Institute of
Business Management.

SAMPLING FRAME:
A survey was held for students of Institute of Business Management.

SAMPLING UNIT:
A questionnaire was filled by male and female students of Institute of Business
Management.

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE:
The sampling technique used for this research study was a non probability (random
sampling). This sampling approach has been used keeping in mind the time constraint
and feasibility for the respondents and researcher as well.

SAMPLE SIZE:
A questionnaire was filled by 20 respondents of students of IoBM.

PROCEDURE:
RESEARCH DESIGN:
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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

Research was started in finding the victims of stress and the effects of stress on the
academic performance, health and social lives of students of IoBM. For this purpose
students of IoBM randomly filled the questionnaire of stress.
The questionnaire was worded objectively, clearly and unbiased. Each questionnaire
contained closed ended (Likert scale) questions.
The major benefit of this research method was that it provided us with quick,
inexpensive, efficient and accurate means of information about the population.

DATA COLLECTION:

EXPLORATORY RESEARCH:
In exploratory research secondary data was collected from the internet. It includes the
literature review from the reliable sources.
SURVEY RESEARCH:
The purpose of using survey research was to collect primary data for our research.
Survey is a technique in which information is obtained by questionnaire or interview.
For the research students of IoBM filled the questionnaire of stress according to their
choices.
The questionnaire was divided into these parts.
Q1: Demographics information
Q2: EFFECTS OF STRESS ON OUR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
Q3: Effects of stress on health.
Q4: Effects of stress on social lives.
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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

Questions were framed according to the topic.

DATA ANALYSIS:
The data gathered through questionnaires has been statistically analyzed. We used
percentages to evaluate the results. Tables and pie charts were made to tabulate the
results.

RESULTS
TABLE OF DEMOGRAPHICS INFORMATION
AGE

GENDER

CGPA

SEMESTER

18-25

MALE AND
FEMALE

2.3-3.54

1-8

MALES
10

FEMAL
ES
10

DESCRIPITION:
The questionnaire was filled by the 10 male and 10 female students of IOBM and their
ages were between 18-25 years. Their CGPA was between 2.3-3.54 and they were
studying in between 1-8 semester.

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

TABLE OF RESULTS:

NEVER
0

RARELY
1

SCORES
SOMETIMES
2

OFTEN
3

VERY OFTEN
4

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON OUR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

ITEM
NUMBER
10

NEVER

RARELY

SOMETIMES

OFTEN

43

144

111

VERY
OFTEN
100

DESCRIPITION:
When the score of 10 questions were combined, 11 % of the students said rarely, 36%
of the students said sometimes, 28% of the students said often and 25% of the
students very often.

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON HEALTH

ITEM
NUMBER
4

NEVER

RARELY

SOMETIMES

OFTEN

16

40

60

VERY
OFTEN
68

DESCRIPITION:
When the score of 4 questions were combined, 9% of the students said rarely, 22% of
the students said sometimes, 32% of the students said often and 37% of the students
very often.

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

EFFECTS OF STRESS ON SOCIAL LIVES

ITEM
NUMBER
6

NEVER

RARELY

SOMETIMES

OFTEN

26

48

57

VERY
OFTEN
56

DESCRIPITION:
When the score of 6 questions were combined, 14% of the students said rarely, 26% of
the students said sometimes, 30% of the students said often and 30% of the students
very often.

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

TABLE OF COMPARISON
CGPA
2.3-3.54

ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE
100

HEALTH

SOCIAL

68

56

DESCRIPITION:
When we compared the results of academic performance, health and social lives.
Stress was affecting 45% of the academic performance, 30% of the health and 25% of
the social lives of the students.
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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

LEVEL OF STRESS
FEMALE
MALE

GOOD
1
-

LOW
5
6

MEDIUM
4
4

HIGH
-

DESCRIPITION:
We count the students who were under stress and on which level of stress are they.
Only 1 female student has good level of stress, 5 female students have low stress level
and 4 female students have medium stress level. In male students 6 have low stress
level and 4 have medium level of stress. We calculated these stress levels according to
scale given below.
SCALE OF STRESS FOR INTERPRETATION OF SCORES:

0-20: Good control over stress

21-40: Low level of stress
41-60: Medium level of stress (should reconsider means of coping with stress)
61-80: High level of stress (needs counselling)

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

DISCUSSION
The effect of stress on academic performance is due to many reasons such as to much
pressure of exams, assignments, competition in getting good grades etc. Due to these
reasons a student cannot perform well and as a result stress affected his/her
academic performance. He/she could not pay attention in the class, cannot
understand the lectures well, come late in the class and have poor attendance. When
the score of 10 questions were combined, 11 % of the students said rarely, 36% of the
students said sometimes, 28% of the students said often and 25% of the students very
often.
The high level of effect of stress on academic performance can be attributed to the
demanding programs of educational institutions which tests and challenges students,
both mentally and physically. The general environment created by the institute to pass
or fail may allow a student to excel, but this very factor itself may become a negative
stressor in disguise. The pie chart further shows that students with lower levels of
stress in their academic performance do form a sizeable share and this leads to the
analysis that these individuals are better able to cope up with the stressors they are
exposed to, in their institute. As a result, the students suffer in their grades and
sometimes, also resort to unhealthy behaviour such as smoking, etc, to cope up with
their stress.
The effect of stress on health is a primary factor; in that, stressors affect the
individuals health first and then have spill over effects on other circles of the students
life. It affects the health of students and as a result they dont have time for exercise
and to eat proper meal. By this they come under depression, loss/gain of weight and
could not sleep well. When the score of 4 questions were combined, 9% of the students
said rarely, 22% of the students said sometimes, 32% of the students said often and
37% of the students very often.
As a result, in order to cope up with these stressors, these individuals resort to
unhealthy habits such as smoking and drugs. These have further detrimental effects
on the students.

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

Stress management is defined as the methods of coping up with stress levels to

maintain stability. The results show a comparatively low percentage of students who
are able to cope up with stressors well. They are likely to have healthy lifestyles and
are likely to excel in their spheres of life.
Stress also effect the social lives of students such as relationship with family
members, friends etc and as a result they feel alone and stop doing the
things/activities that they like to do in the past. For many students, stress affects
their social relationships to a greater extent.

When the score of 6 questions were

combined, 14% of the students said rarely, 26% of the students said sometimes, 30%
of the students said often and 30% of the students very often.
Stressors could interfere by causing hindrance in forming successful relations of
students with other individuals in his/her sphere of life. The demanding requirements
of education and daily life can take a toll on the students mental and physical ability
to interact effectively with other individuals. Stressors can affect the students mood,
causing irritability, making it difficult to form social relationships.
When we compared the results of academic performance, health and social lives.
Stress was affecting 45% of the academic performance, 30% of the health and 25% of
the social lives of the students.
When we measured the level of stress then we come to know that 11 students have low
level of stress, 8 students have medium level of stress and only 1 student have good
control over stress.

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

CONCLUSION
In our research we concluded that stress affects the academic performance, health
and social lives of students. But every individual is different from other person and
stress varies person to person. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of stress.
ADVANTAGES OF STRESS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH AND SOCIAL
LIVES:

It Motivates students to study with enthusiasm.

It can make a person to use time effectively.
It can result in good progress.
Stress makes the men friendly, generous, and trusting during games
Stress can enhance your memory and learning.
Stress is good for the brain.
It keeps you healthy.
It helps you to see the bright side.
It helps a person to become future oriented vision and strive for the best.
It makes a person responsible.

DISADVANTAGES OF STRESS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH AND

SOCIAL LIVES:

The impact on studies is that it decreases the person grades.

They dont understand the lecture.
It affects a person mentally, emotionally and physically.
Under stress a person can eat alot or low.
Hormonal changes occur.
Sleeping disorders are the main cause of stress.
They dont have time for exercise.
A person can become isolated
A person can become moody
A person feels depress.
A person can become less socialize.
A person feels difficulties in finding job.
A person can become de motivated.
They conflicts with their family members, friends etc.

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

REFERENCES
1. Dictionary.com, 21st Century Lexicon, Definition of stress, retrieved on
November 18, 2012, available at:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/eustress

2. D. L. Nelson, B. L. Simmons (2004). P. L. Perrew, D. C. Ganster. ed. Eustress:

An Elusive Construct an Engaging Pursuit (First Edition ed.). Oxford, UK:
Elsevier Jai. ISBN 0-7623-1057-X., retrieved on November 18, 2012, from
website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustress

3. Laura P. Womble, Impact of stress factors on college students academic

performance, from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and is
available at:
http://www.psych.uncc.edu/Womble.pdf

4. Lazarus, R. S. (1966). Psychological Stress and the Process of coping. New York,
Toronto, London: McGraw Hill Book Co., retrieved on November 18, 2012, from
website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustress

5. Madeline Haller, The Surprising Upside to Your Long Workday, May 30, 2012,
retrieved on November 10, 2012, from website:
http://news.menshealth.com/the-surprising-upside-to-your-longworkday/2012/05/30/

6. Marks, D. et al. 2005. Health Psychology: Research, Theory and Practice. 2nd
ed. London: SAGE Publication Ltd.

7. Melinda Smith, Robert Segal, and Jeanne Segal, Understanding stress , signs ,
simptoms along with causes and effects, retrieved on November 18, 2012,
available at:
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm

8. Mind Tools, Stress Management, What is stress-definitions, retrieved on

November 18, 2012, available at:
http://www.mindtools.com/stress/UnderstandStress/StressDefinition.htm

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EFFECTS OF STRESS ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HEALTH & SOCIAL LIVES

9. Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press, Definition of stress retrieved on

November 18, 2012, from website:
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/stress

10. Positive Changes Coaching: Types of stress, retrieved on November 18, 2012,
from website:
http://www.positive-changes-coach.com/types-of-stress.html

11. Sembilan Rafidah Kamarudin, Azizah Aris and Nor aini Ibrahim ,Stress And
Academic Performance: A study among pre-science students in Uitm Negeri, available at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/38157567/Stress-and-Academic-Performance

12. Stress and distress definition, retrieved on November 18, 2012, from website:
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13. Stress introduction available at:

http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_stress_000031_1.htm
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_stress_000031_1.htm#ixzz2Cd
nNkcc9
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_stress_000031_1.htm#ixzz2Cd
niJQMW

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