What Are the Causes of First-Year College Stress?

Stress is common among college freshmen.

An entrance into college brings with it new freedoms but it also requires a student to make many adjustments. Stress is a frequent hazard for first-year students as they attempt to navigate major social, educational and personal changes while still at a young age.

Types

Freshmen are stressed by many things, including separation from family, the need to make many new decisions, steeper competition among peers and peer pressure to try drugs, drinking and sex.

Features

Stress can exhibit itself in many forms, including a generalized anxiety, depression or irritability; frequent fatique; insomnia; loss of appetite; and nightmares.

Significance

Stress can lead to decreased productivity, which frequently exacerbates the stress, precipitating a downward spiral.

Fun Fact

According to a poll in the Los Angeles Times, college freshmen in 2000 were twice as stressed as college freshman in 1985. Women were twice as likely to feel stressed as men, but 30 percent of all freshmen said they felt "frequently overwhelmed by all I have to do."

Prevention, Solution

According to the University of Florida's counseling center, stress can be prevented by maintaining a balanced lifestyle, in which you receive an adequate amount of food, sleep, exercise and recreation. Discussing your problems with a trusted friend and developing relaxation techniques can also be helpful.

References

• University of Wisconsin, Plattville
• University of Florida Counseling Center: Stress and College Students
• "Los Angeles Times": College Freshman More Stressed Than Ever; Kenneth R. Weiss; Jan. 24, 2000