The impact of stress on student mental health by the numbers
introduces data highlighting the leading stressors for students and how each affects mental health鈥攑lus some tips for coping with stress as a student.
The impact of stress on student mental health by the numbers
Stress is a nearly universal experience among students, especially those in college. A World Health Organization (WHO)-supported of over 20,000 first-year students across nine countries found that 93.7% experienced stress in at least one major area, including finances, health, relationships, family, school, or loved ones' problems.聽
While it might just seem like a normal part of student life, stress in college students can actually have a serious impact. Data from the WHO study shows that higher stress levels were linked to increased odds of developing mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety. Similarly, found that common stressors鈥攁cademic, family, extracurricular/job, and financial鈥攄irectly lowered students' mental well-being, with academic and family pressures having particularly strong negative effects.
As such, can have lasting effects when left unaddressed, contributing to long-term emotional and psychological challenges. These studies, and others like them, point to the importance of addressing student stress early鈥攂efore it takes a toll on their health, academics, and relationships.聽
To further explore the link between and mental health, looked at the data鈥攊ncluding research on how different common stressors impact students' well-being and which mental health disorders are exacerbated by student stress. We also include some tips about how to manage stress effectively.
Academic stress is closely tied to mental well-being in college students鈥攅specially those who are nonbinary聽
It should come as no surprise that academic stress is a major factor influencing the mental well-being of college students. A of over 840 students found a "moderate" to "strong" relationship between academic stress and mental well-being (correlation coefficient = 0.53). The study's data reveal that as perceived academic stress, measured by the Perception of Academic Stress Scale (PAS), increased, mental well-being, assessed using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS), decreased.聽
The effects of academic stress weren't felt equally among all students. The study found that nonbinary students reported the highest academic stress (mean PAS score of 70.5) and the lowest mental well-being (mean SWEMWBS score of 17.2). In contrast, male students reported the lowest academic stress (mean PAS score of 63.9) and the highest mental well-being (mean SWEMWBS score of 21.4). Female students fell in between, with an average PAS score of 67.2 and an average SWEMWBS score of 18.9. These differences highlight that nonbinary students experienced significantly higher academic stress and poorer mental health compared to their male and female peers.
There is a feedback loop between academic stress and depression among college students
It's not just that academic stress worsens college students' mental health鈥攏egative mental health symptoms can also hinder academic performance. confirms that stress鈥攂oth academic and family-related鈥攊s a significant contributor to depression in students, which then negatively impacts their academic performance.聽
Family is a recurring source of stress that impacts student mental health
In addition to academics, research shows that family and family issues are a consistent source of stress for students. The above 2022 study found that while academic stress and family stress both contribute to depression, family stress has a stronger and more statistically significant impact on depression.聽
Also, data from the 2020 WHO initiative showed that more than half of respondents (56.7%) experienced mild stress in their family relationships. This stress was linked to four mental health conditions, with the strongest connection (43.9%) found with borderline personality disorder (BPD) compared to other stressors.
The negative mental health effects of stress can begin in high school for some students
Many experience chronic stress, which affects their academic success, mental health, and behavior鈥攁nd often continues into college. According to a conducted by NYU researchers, nearly half of surveyed (49%) reported feeling great stress daily. Rates of daily stress were higher among female students (60%) than male students (41%). Homework was a consistently mentioned source of stress among these students, with nearly half (48%) doing at least three hours of homework per night (with girls doing more than boys).聽
The study found that stress persisted into college years, potentially leading to disengagement and mental health issues. Students reported using coping strategies like sports, exercise, and planning but also mentioned emotional exhaustion and substance use as common responses to continued stress during the college years.聽
How to cope with stress as a student
Balancing school, extracurriculars, and social life can be overwhelming, but there are ways to manage stress and protect your mental health. Here are three practical strategies for :
Set boundaries
It's important to create a healthy balance between schoolwork and personal time. Try setting a schedule for studying, taking regular breaks, and avoiding last-minute cramming. Learning to say no to extra commitments can also help prevent burnout.
Prioritize self-care
Taking care of yourself is just as important as keeping up with assignments. Get enough sleep, eat nourishing meals, and find time for , whether it's exercising, listening to music, or spending time with friends.
Seek support
If school stress feels overwhelming, don't hesitate to ask for help. Talk to a teacher, school counselor, or a trusted friend. If you need additional support, professional mental health resources can make a difference.
was produced by and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Duran said that he tried to kill himself after struggling early in his career. In a statement released Tuesday, Duran said: 鈥淭alking about this wasn鈥檛 easy, but it felt important.鈥
The Trump administration took issue with aspects of the grant programs that touched on race, saying they were harmful to students.
