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A longitudinal analysis of stress among incoming college freshmen
Renee Garett1, Sam Liu2, Sean D Young2
1a ElevateU , Los Angeles , California , USA.
Journal of American College Health : J of ACH
|April 1, 2017
Summary
First-year university students experience elevated stress, particularly during exams. Effective stress management involves prioritizing sleep and exercise while limiting general internet use, with notable gender differences in stress levels.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Higher Education Studies
- Health Sciences
Background:
- First-year undergraduates face significant stress during their initial academic semester.
- Understanding stress predictors is crucial for developing effective student support interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine stress level changes in freshmen during their first semester.
- To identify key predictors of student stress, including coping mechanisms, emotional states, and sleep quality.
Main Methods:
- A 10-week longitudinal study involving 197 freshmen students.
- Weekly self-report surveys assessing stress, coping strategies, emotions, and sleep quality.
- Generalized linear mixed models were employed for data analysis.
Main Results:
- Student stress levels peaked during examination periods.
- Women reported higher stress than men.
- Lower sleep quality and increased negative emotions (fear, anger) correlated with higher stress.
- Exercise emerged as an effective coping strategy; internet usage, meditation, and self-isolation were linked to increased stress.
- Social media usage did not significantly impact stress levels.
Conclusions:
- Stress management programs for freshmen should address gender-specific needs.
- Interventions should prioritize improving sleep quality and promoting exercise.
- Reducing general internet usage may be beneficial for mitigating student stress.