Stress and the College Student

1. Stress and the College Student Chapter 17

2. Chapter Overview • Stressors facing young college students • Stressors facing older college students • Stress and minority college students • Interventions

3. Stressors Facing Younger College Students • Lifestyle change • Achieving emotional independence from family • Choosing and preparing for a career • Preparing for emotional commitment and family life • Developing an ethical system • Grades • Many students are more concerned about grades rather than about what they are learning • Course overload • Taking on too many classes can lead to illness, hostile emotions, not enough time for friends, learning less, and ultimately poor grades

4. Stressors Facing Younger College Students (cont.) • Finances • Tuition and books, living expenses, credit cards • Giving up or changing friendships • New intimate relationships (love) • Erotic love • Ludic love • Storgic love • Manic love • Sex

5. Did You Know? • In 2003-2004, average cost of tuition and fees at a four-year private college was $19,710 and $4,694 at a four-year public college • In 1999-2000, 64% of students graduated with a student-loan debt • The number of seniors who graduated with more than $20,000 in debt increased from 5% in 1992-1993 to 33% in 1999-2000

6. HIV/AIDS • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) • Virus that causes AIDS • Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) • Progressive HIV infection that reduces the effectiveness of the immune system • By 2003, 524,060 Americans died of AIDS There is no known cure for AIDS

7. Transmission of HIV/AIDS • Bodily fluids such as blood, semen, or vaginal fluids • High-risk groups include: • Intravenous drug users • Infants born to HIV-infected mothers • Participants in unprotected sexual activities

8. Prevention of HIV/AIDS • Abstain from sexual activities • Maintain a monogamous relationship • Use proper protection if you choose to become sexually active • Abstain from intravenous drug use

9. Other STIs • Sexually transmitted infections • Syphilis • Gonorrhea • Chlamydia • Genital warts • Genital herpes • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

10. Other Stressors Affecting the Younger College Student • Date/acquaintance rape • Shyness • Jealousy • Breakups

11. The Older College Student • More than 40% of college students are over age 25 • They experience same stressors as younger college students • They also experience unique stressors in areas of: • Career and school • Family and school • Self-doubt

12. The Minority College Student • Stressors include: • Racism • Language • Cultural values • Pressure to perform

13. Interventions • Life-situation interventions: • Attend stress-management workshops • Learn to manage finances • Make new friends by joining clubs and participating in activities • Perception interventions • Overcome shyness by asking self probing questions • Use selective awareness to focus on positive aspects of college

14. Interventions (cont.) • Emotional arousal interventions • Practice relaxation techniques • Make it a priority to find the time • Physiological arousal interventions • Use exercise to burn up products of stress • Many exercise options are available on college campuses

15. Stress and the College Student