Cause of Stress among First-Year University Students | 2023

The Causes of Stress among First-Year University Students

Authors:
Khoirun Nisa Nasution 1 , Kishi Nesya Prasasti 2nd, Tatu Zakiyatun Nufus3rd
st

Psychology faculty of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract
This article discusses causes of stress among first-year university students. The purpose of this study
was to investigate the causes of stress in first-year university students. The methods used in this study
is descriptive and qualitative research based on systematic literature review. The data collected is then
generalized into information that becomes the conclusion of the study. The purpose of this study was
to determine the sources and causes of stress in first year university students. The result of this study
found that the main cause of first-year university student stress is academic stress. These findings help
find solutions to stress in first-year university students.
Keywords: Stress, Academic Stress, First-Year Student

Introduction
Psychologically speaking, the definition of stress is a state of anxiety produced when
events and responsibilities exceed one’s coping abilities (Seaward, 2018). Stress is the
inability to cope with a perceived (real or imagined) threat to one’s mental, physical,
emotional, and spiritual well-being, which results in a series of physiological responses and
adaptations (Chopra, 2000; Dossey, 2004). This inability to cope with threats and dealing
with stress is often experienced by first-year university students.
Most students in the early stages of college experience stress. stress is caused by
various factors. The Author tries to identify what are the factors that cause stress. By
knowing the factors that cause stress, it is hoped that undergraduates can avoid the factors
that cause stress and can overcome the stress. A study from Transylvania University of
Brasov investigated college adjustment and its relationship with stress in first-year students.
The study also investigated the determinants of academic adaptation and stress in first-year
students.
The first year of university is usually very challenging for students. Many things are
different from high school. This difference forces first-year students to adapt. This adaptation
process is often the main factor of stress in first-year students. In addition to these main
factors, there are several other factors that cause stress. Based on these events, the author is
interested in examining the causes of stress among first-year university students. The purpose

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of this study was to determine the sources and causes of stress in first year university
students.

Literature review
Originally, the word stress was a term used in physics, primarily to describe enough
tension or force placed on an object to bend or break it. In contemporary times, the word
Stress has many connotations and definitions based on various perspectives of the human
condition. (Seaward, 2018). In psychology stress is defined as the inability to deal with
pressure or threat because the threat or pressure exceeds the person's ability to cope with it
which affects mental and physical well-being and produces a state of anxiety.
There are various types of stress:
1. Eustress, good stress. Any stressor that motivates a person to achieve optimal levels of
performance or health.
2. Neustress, the kind of information or sensory stimulation that is or is perceived as
unimportant.
3. Distress, an unfavorable or negative interpretation of an event (real or imagined) that
threatens and promotes ongoing feelings of fear or anger. This is commonly known as
stress.
In stress there are stressors. Stressors are any situation, circumstance, or any stimulus
that is perceived to be a threat. the nature of stressor divided into three categories: biological
influences, psychointrapersonal influences, and social influences
Stress being an inevitable part of life, it generally touches various groups of people
regardless of age, gender, educational status or social and economic status. Despite this fact,
stress, depression and anxiety are common mental health problems among university
students. As a form of self-defense and an adaptation response to survive, stress makes a
person think and try hard to solve challenges or problems in life. The most common form of
stress experienced by students is academic stress. Academic stress is defined as a state of
individual distress resulting from perceptions and appraisals of academic stressors, which are
related to science and education in higher education (Govaerts & Grégoire, 2004; Wong,
Hockenberry, & Wilson, 2007).

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Stress is still needed to trigger self-development and increase creativity. As long as the
stress can still be within the limits of individual capacity, the stress can have a positive
impact. When the stress exceeds the individual's capacity, stress can have a negative impact
on a person. A person's stress response is different depending on health conditions,
experience, personality, gender, age, the magnitude of the stressor, and each individual's
ability to manage emotions.

Methodology

The method used in this article is descriptive and qualitative research based on
Systematic Literature Review. The data in this research article was obtained from various
online search sources such as Google scholar, Elsevier, and related books. There are three
keywords used in the data search of this article which are "Stress", "College Stress", and
"First-year Student". The data source reviewed is data for the last eleven years, namely the
range of 2012-2023.

Result and finding

Based on several previous studies, it can be described that the main cause of stress in
students, especially first-year students, is academic-related stress. This academic stress is
described as time management, academic demands, and academic environment, among
others. The sources of stress are described as academic tasks, decreased motivation, busy and
unclear class schedules, too much learning content that must be learned in a certain period,
lack of time to review learning content, difficulty in understanding learning content, and less
than optimal performance in test taking.
Some insignificant academic factors such as poor relationships with lecturers, poor
relationships with classmates, demands to be active, poor participation in class, and lack of
interest in learning also affect the stress experienced by students. Outside of academic stress
there are several other causes of stress in first-year students. Some other causes are adaptation
to the new culture in the environment where students study, lifestyle changes, difficulties in
managing finances, friendship problems, and demands to start a professional career.

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Higher education system that has significant differences in teaching methods, and a
wide range of academic requirements. This causes students to experience various hurdles in
educational, social, environmental, and psychological adjustment in a new campus setting
that can impact psychosocial well-being and learning outcomes. Stress is very common in
first-year college students because students need to adjust to the new environment as well as
to ensure the continuity of their academic life. Much of the academic stress at the college
level is determined by what students learn and how they learn it.
Conclusion
Stress is defined as the inability to deal with pressure or threat because the threat or
pressure exceeds the person's ability to cope with it which affects mental and physical
well-being and produces a state of anxiety. As a form of self-defense and an adaptation
response to survive, stress makes a person think and try hard to solve challenges or problems
in life. Stress has various types such as Eustress, Neustress, and Distress. Stress comes
because stressors, any situation, circumstance, or any stimulus that is perceived to be a threat.
the nature of stressor divided into three categories: biological influences, psychointrapersonal
influences, and social influences
Stress is needed and has a positive impact to trigger self-development and increase
creativity as long as the stress can still be within the limits of individual capacity. A person's
stress response is different depending on health conditions, experience, personality, gender,
age, the magnitude of the stressor, and each individual's ability to manage emotions.
The most common form of stress experienced by students is academic stress.
Academic stress is defined as an individual's distress resulting from the perception and
appraisal of academic stressors, which are related to science and education in higher
education. These academic stressors are described as time management, academic demands,
academic environment, academic tasks, decreased motivation, busy and unclear class
schedules, too much learning content that must be learned in a certain period, lack of time to
review learning content, difficulty in understanding learning content, less than optimal
performance in test taking. significant differences in teaching methods, and a wide range of
academic requirements. Outside of academic stress, adaptation to the new culture in the

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environment where students study, lifestyle changes, difficulties in managing finances,

friendship problems, and demands to start a professional career.

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