Statistics on College Student Stress

Statistics on college student stress are staggering but should come as no surprise since this is the first time a young adult begins to enter the adult world and it can be a very stressful time in someone’s life.

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The Statistics on College Student Stress

A recent MSN article reports that the Associated Press and a college TV station, mtvU, conducted research on college student stress at many colleges throughout the United States. The survey found that four out of ten college students report they feel stressed often. One out of five say they feel stressed most of the time. One out of four students experienced daily stress and one in ten had thoughts of suicide.

The Consequences of Stress on College Students

Obviously, stress is a major problem for college students throughout the United States. Stress causes many issues with emotional and physical health. One of the most frightening consequences of college student stress is suicide because of depression.

• In 2005, the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) surveyed 17,000 college students. Twenty-five percent of the students reported they have "felt so depressed it was difficult to function" three to eight times in the past 12 months. Twenty one percent of the students reported that they "seriously considered suicide."
• In 2003, a survey conducted at Penn State University (PSU) found that 42 percent of their students felt depressed at least once in the past year. Ten percent of PSU college students seriously considered suicide.
• According to the 2005 National Survey of Counseling Center Directors, 154 students committed suicide.
• The second leading cause of death among college students is suicide.

The Reasons for College Student Stress

After reading the statistics on college student stress, you may wonder why college students experience so much stress. While it varies among college students' individual situations, the following are some of the main causes for college student stress:

• Pressure to Do Well: Whether it's pressure from family or the student’s interior motivation, the desire to do the best and get perfect grades can put a great deal of stress on a college student.
• Amount of Schoolwork: College work is much different from any schoolwork a student has ever done and this can make a college student feel overwhelmed quickly.
• Social Acceptance: A college student may have many friends behind and must start over, particularly if they choose to go to school out of state. If the student is not confident and comfortable with social situations, the stress can become overwhelming.
• Missing Family and Friends: Some college students have never been away from home and homesickness can really take a toll.
• Problems at Home: If there are problems at home that the college student cannot go and help with, he or she feels powerless and stressed over the loss of control.
• Peer Pressure: Wanting to fit in by drinking, partying, skipping class, or doing drugs can be detrimental to the student's grades and success in college.

Help for College Student Stress

If you are a college student experiencing an overwhelming amount of stress and experience the symptoms of depression, seek help right away! Every school has a counseling center to help students with a wide range of problems. If you don't feel comfortable going into the center, call and ask for a hotline or if you can talk to someone over the phone. No one will judge you or make you feel like what you are feeling is unreasonable. Depression is a serious problem and you need to talk to someone so you can sort out your feelings and thoughts. Always remember, life can seem unbearable but if you hang on, it will turn around and get better. You just need to make it through the storm, and understanding the statistics on college student stress can help you realize that you aren’t alone.

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