College Students’ Experiences with Stress, Coping Mechanisms, and Awareness of the Physical Effects of Stress

Abstract

Stressful life events are inevitable. It is how we interpret and manage those events that determines the impact that they have on our bodies. Stress has been linked to negative consequences in each system in our body, including the endocrine, reproductive, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems (American Psychological Association). Ample research has been done on types of stressors for college students. Few researchers have measured college students’ awareness of this topic and, consequently, we know little about their awareness of the physical effects of stress. By examining college students’ awareness of the physical effects of stress, in addition to their experiences with stress and various coping mechanisms, we can further understand the potential relationships among these variables.