Running Head: HOW STRESS INFLUENCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE
STUDENTS.1
How Stress Influence Academic Performance of College Students
Name
Institution
HOW STRESS INFLUENCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS2
Contents
Abstract ......................................................................................................................................4
Introduction and Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................5
Purpose of the Research ..........................................................................................................5
Scope of the Research .............................................................................................................6
Research Question ...................................................................................................................6
Hypothesis ..............................................................................................................................6
Delimitation and limitations of Study ......................................................................................6
Assumptions and operational terms .........................................................................................7
Chapter two.................................................................................................................................7
Literature review .........................................................................................................................7
Introduction .............................................................................................................................7
Aspects of stress. .....................................................................................................................9
Methods ......................................................................................................................................9
Goals of the research ...............................................................................................................9
Research Conducted and Study Design and Approval Process ............................................... 10
Data Collection (Instrumentation, Q&R, Reliability/Validity, Citations) ........................ 10
Study Design Analysis Proposal/Data Statistics Gathered ...................................................... 11
Reliability and Validity Concerns/Ethical Considerations ...................................................... 11
Limitations in the Study, Implications, and Research for Future Studies ................................ 11
HOW STRESS INFLUENCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS4
Abstract
While many students get to graduate every year, some are left behind. We also have those within
the graduates who have stories to tell on their struggles with stress in their college period.
Therefore, while we are taking time to address stress within society, we must remember that
college students are victims. With stress, their performances are affected, and in many cases, the
effect is on the negative side/ there are so many different aspects that can affect and act as
stressors. In this paper, we will be looking at how stress affects the student's performances—a
cover of the study methods and the different objectives that we hope to achieve with the study.
HOW STRESS INFLUENCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS5
Introduction and Statement of the Problem
For the longest time, it was assumed that certain groups mainly suffered stress. With
time, it was no longer unavoidable as the students, too, were much suffering. A study showed
that at least one student committed suicide within an hour or attempted to commit suicide. With
proper investigation, the main reason for the attempts was stress within their study levels. As a
student, there are various reasons why a student could be stressed, which automatically affects
their wellbeing and performance. Environmental stressors and student appraisals cause academic
stress. According to De Luca et al., 2016, and the national alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), a
significant percentage of students do not finish their college studies. Most of them drop off from
their classes, and the main reason was seen to be stressors within their studies, financial matters,
and mainly mental health issues related to depression and stress. For the situation to be changed
and their performances improved, they have to be well guarded, which will enhance their mental
growth and health, which can be supported by the necessary faculties.
Purpose of the Research
While students are driven towards achieving their goals, along the way, they could
encounter different situation and events which cause imbalance and affects them mentally by
causing stress. Therefore, the students' behavioral aspect is essential for their well-being and
general performances within the schools. That is why, within this paper and research, we aim to
establish ways to manage to establish a well set of routines and behaviors that will promote their
general wellbeing. If all the factors are geared towards giving them a conducive environment,
stress can be controlled as long as they are better in their behavioral patterns. Even their
performances will change for the better. As per the American Institute of Stress, stress can
significantly influence the moods, emotions, and behavior. Unfortunately, this affects the
HOW STRESS INFLUENCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS6
student's physical and mental health, which is seen in their academic performances. That is why
we have to find a way that we can balance everything without stressing the students.
Scope of the Research
Over time, the levels of students affected by stress have increased. Many are led to drop
out, and others spend many of them in the same colleges due to the dismal performances.
Unfortunately, as time goes by, the situation does not get better. That is why, in as much as
research has been done in the areas before, there is a need to divulge more studies into the
matter. Better understanding will help in controlling and managing it. Graduation rates and the
performance levels are affected and greatly influenced by the students' states of mind, and that
has to be safeguarded.
Research Question
Do students of the university of Townson, Baltimore, Maryland, get affected by stress
and influence their performances?
Hypothesis
Ha: students of Townson University Baltimore, Maryland, will be affected by stares
within their performances.
Ho: Students of Townson University Baltimore in Maryland do not get affected by stress
regarding their performances.
Delimitation and limitations of the study
Delimitations refer to the different aspects or factors that have to be limited so that the
research can better focus on a smaller size of manageable samples. That is why, within this
HOW STRESS INFLUENCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS7
research, the delimitations will be that the sample will be from Towson University. This study's
limitations are that the data collection might be limited as some of the samples are afraid of
being victimized.
Assumptions and operational terms
Notably, this study will involve the use of students as samples. That is why some various
assumptions are made within the research and its process. One is that the participants are well
aware of the study's purpose and required. There is also the assumption that they will be
cooperative and truthful throughout the process. Our assumption that every participant has
handed an encounter with being stressed within their time in the university. That way, we can get
authentic results. Therefore, the various terms to be sued are as follows:
Stress: a physical response that is characterized by symptoms of physical and mental tension.
Attrition: wearing down caused by stress.
Grade Point Average the total average scores for a student.
Chapter two
Literature review
Introduction
According to previous research, stress is the most undermined aspect of society,
especially for college students. While everyone acknowledges that there are stressors within the
colleges and they have to be managed, not much is out in place to help its situation. That is why,
HOW STRESS INFLUENCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS8
even today, students are still suffering from different effects of states. Like everything else.
Every person is different, and they react differently to stressors. While the stress triggers differ
for every student, what they chose to do is primarily the same. They are unable to concentrate on
their course works (National Institute of Mental Health, 2019). They may feel overwhelmed, and
at times the workable solution for them is quitting. Stress affects the student's performance as
now; they cannot completely concentrate on their academics. Therefore, for those who do not
quit, others iota to commit suicide or turn to drugs to control their emotions, which later turns
into a drug abuse problem.
Observably, when it comes to stress, there are two ways to go with low stress levels. It is
possible that the students can manage it and, if anything, use to as a stepping stone towards their
moving forward. At times some stressors push them to be at their best as they are limited to
resources. That means that they will have to be innovative, which will be a positive effect of
stressors. Even then, most of the time, the effects are adverse. Different stressors influence
differently. At times the student is left feeling helpless and hopeless. That is why they cannot
concentrate on their course work, and they opt for easier ways to end their suffering (Larson,
2016). Within an academic set up, different stressors cannot be found in other areas. The
research discovered that various student stressors are excessive assignments, poor time
management, and peer competition. Matters of peer pressure are very prominent within colleges,
and it is straightforward for one to be stressed as they are trying to keep up with the others. On
an individual level, the stressors include financial issues, personal and academic lives, living
conditions, and other transitioning into college. Even then, on various occasions, stress has been
seen to increase in third-year students going forth.
HOW STRESS INFLUENCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS9
Aspects of stress.
Stress can magnify itself in different ways, and each of them has different effects. While
everyone is susceptible to stress, we all react differently. Anxiety, burnout, fear, worry, and
distress are significant aspects of stress. Each represents a different feeling and a time within the
student's time, where they may feel like they have no hope. Due to the different feelings, their
concentration on their studies is affected, which will show in their academic performance.
Anxiety refers to how one reacts to stress, while burnout is when a person loses eagerness and
motivation to do anything due to being too stressed. Fear is the feeling of being inadequate, nit
measuring, which can affect a person's affect viability.
On the other hand, we have distress, which is having a moment of great pain and sorrow
that one cannot act on anything. Duress can be very crippling, which will manifest in the resists
of the students. Lastly is worry where the student is left wondering what will happen, which
cripples their ability to do anything. They are driven by thoughts of not doing well that they find
it hard to study to rectify their fears (Turner, M et al., 2016). Stressors can be both positive and
negative; as for the positive stressors, they push the students to do better and drive themselves.
The negative push them towards deteriorating and doing the worst. They lack motivation for any
inspiration.
Methods
Goals of the research
The main objective of this study is to determine how stress affects students'
performances. Simultaneously, as we will be using the students as our samples, we will explore
HOW STRESS INFLUENCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS10
the primary source of stress and how they can be changed. College studies are essential yet, so
many students are lost within the system due to stress. Poor performance means that the
graduation rates are low, and that is something that we are hoping we can change. Therefore, the
main objective is finding out what stressors are present within students' lives and how they affect
them generally (Pedersen, D et al., 2019).
Research Question
Do students of the university of Townson, Baltimore, Maryland, get affected by stress
and influence their performances?
Hypothesis
Ha: students of Towson University Baltimore, Maryland will be affected by stares within
their performances.
Ho: Students of Towson University Baltimore in Maryland do not get affected by stress
regarding their performances.
Research Conducted and Study Design and Approval Process
The research was based on students who were attending the University of Towson in Maryland.
It was a sample of about 500 students.
Data Collection (Instrumentation, Q&R, Reliability/Validity, Citations)
The primary data collection was by use of questionnaires that the students were meant to
fill. We would feel what they felt were their significant causes of stress within their college
years. At the same time, it offered them a chance to over how they were affected by the stress.
The different questionnaires will be shared within the sample group that has been selected. Some
HOW STRESS INFLUENCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS11
will be delivered by hand, while the rest will be sent out electronically so that they can fully be
submitted. Both open and closed-ended questionnaires will be a perfect fit within this research.
That is why the best-suited theory will be the ecological model. Stress in students is more than an
individual factors related problem; the environment could cause that they are in, the surrounding
populations, or even the interpersonal relationships. There is more to the college students other
than education, and that too could affect their studying. The purpose of this model is so that we
can determine the different interrelations and come up with ways to reduce it.
Study Design Analysis Proposal/Data Statistics Gathered
Regression analysis is the best design to determine the relationship between academic
performances and the students' health. That is, it will give a rational analysis of how the two
interact and influence each other.
Reliability and Validity Concerns/Ethical Considerations
Within this study, all the students who will be used as samples will be involved with the
onset. Every step will be taken to ensure that their well-being is taken care of and no harm comes
to them. Generally, the whole study will be under the principles of ethical considerations.
Limitations in the Study, Implications, and Research for Future Studies
While we will do the best to hit our objectives, unfortunately, there is not much research
within the area, which means fewer secondary data sources. Simultaneously, the sample of 500 is
small compared to the number of college students within the US, let alone globally. Therefore in
future studies, we hope to incorporate a bigger size in samples to increase generality.
HOW STRESS INFLUENCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS12
References
De Luca, S., Franklin, C., Yueqi, Y., Johnson, S., & Brownson, C. (2016). The Relationship
Between Suicide Ideation, Behavioral Health, and College Academic
Performance.Community Mental Health Journal, 52(5), 534–540.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016- 9987-4
Larson, M., Orr, M., & Warne, D. (2016). Using Student Health Data to Understand and
Promote Academic Success in Higher Education Settings. College Student Journal, 50(4),
590–602.
National Institute of Mental Health. (, 2019). 5 Things You Should Know About Stress.
Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml
Pedersen, D. E., Swenberger, J., & Moes, K. E. (2017). School Spillover and College
Student Health. Sociological Inquiry, 87(3), 524–546. https://doi.org/10.1111/soin.12161
Turner, M., Scott-Young, C. M., & Holdsworth, S. (2017). Promoting wellbeing at
university: the role of resilience for students of the built environment. Construction
Management & Economics, 35(11/12), 707–718.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2017.1353698
