Long-Term Impact of Stress Management Practices on University Students’ Academic Career Development and Professional Preparedness
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v4i2.2160Keywords:
Academic Stress, Stress Management, Coping Strategies, Academic Performance, University Students, PakistanAbstract
The present study was a qualitative study regarding the experience of academic stress and coping strategies among the undergraduate students of University of Malakand, Pakistan. Based on the issue of data saturation, ten students were purposively selected and interviewed by semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Results indicated that the main contributors of academic stress were financial issues, mountains of assignments, high parental and personal expectations, fear of failure, and poor time management. Subjects indicated that on-going stress had a negative impact on their memory, concentration, problem-solving, motivation, and academic performance. Students employed a range of coping strategies including making plans, setting goals, self-care and reaching out to friends and family, however there were many that did not always use these strategies. Most students had a difficult time balancing school and personal life. The study results indicate that academic stress, when left unmanaged, has a detrimental effect on students’ academic achievement and their cognitive functioning. Some recommendations from students were effective time management, self-care, healthy lifestyle, social support, and coping through faith. The results point to the importance of creating culturally relevant and well-structured stress management programs for universities that can include financial stressors, as well as academic stressors, and support a regular and appropriate coping strategies.
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