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Updated: Mar 24, 2026

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
The relationship between financial strain, perceived stress, psychological symptoms, and academic and social
Danielle R Adams1,2, Steven A Meyers1, Rinad S Beidas2
1a Department of Psychology , Roosevelt University , Chicago , Illinois , USA.
Objective:
Financial strain may directly or indirectly (i.e., through perceived stress) impact students' psychological symptoms and academic and social integration, yet few studies have tested these relationships. The authors explored the mediating effect of perceived stress on the relationship between financial strain and 2 important outcomes: psychological symptomology and academic and social integration.
Participants:
Participants were 157 undergraduate students. Data were collected from December 2013 to March 2014.
Methods:
Cross-sectional data collection conducted using online survey software.
Results:
It was found that perceived stress mediated the relationship between financial strain and (a) psychological symptomology and (b) academic and social integration. Both models included first-generation status as a covariate.
Conclusions:
Results suggest that perceived stress is an important intervention target for reducing psychological symptoms and improving academic and social integration for undergraduate students. Implications for university health centers and mental health professionals include incorporating a public health model to minimize stress risk.
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