Stress is a common theme for students

Clusters of students huddled over their laptops or flipping through textbook pages until early hours of the morning is a typical scene in the Johnson Center Library at Mason. It’s also common to see Facebook statuses relaying the same message: papers, exams and projects are stressing students out.

But it isn’t just schoolwork frazzling the nerves of students. There is a plethora of other factors causing stress around Mason as well.

"I run from one stressful situation to the next: school, traffic, work, more traffic, my internship. There just isn't enough time in my day for everything to get done," said senior nursing major Melissa Anderson, who is working two jobs and trying to graduate this semester.

Many Mason students are just like Anderson, and are coping with a variety of stress-causing situations on a daily basis.

“Sometimes I have a hard time getting to sleep at night just thinking about everything I have to do the next day,” said freshman Erin Donaghey.

Most of Donaghey’s stress can be attributed to schoolwork, but she has social pressures, too.

“I just joined a sorority last semester.  Even though the events are fun, it’s still a time commitment that I have to factor into my day,” Donaghey said.

Running out of time during a busy day is a common concern of students, but economic worries can also cause significant distress.

“I worry about money all the time. It impacts every aspect of my life: food, time with friends, cost of gas to get places,” said senior finance major Darren Smith. “My biggest fear is graduating in the fall without a job lined-up.”

Smith, who’s part-time job at the Bloom grocery store helps him to manage his financial concerns.  “I’m glad I have a part-time job, I worry less about money now,” he said.

Other students disagree with Smith, saying their jobs are a major source of stress.

“My boss, rude customers, running back and forth for an entire shift.  The paycheck almost isn’t worth it; I’d rather be in class,” said junior global affairs major Chris Prince, a waiter at Hard Times Café. “I don’t have time to do the things I want to, which then just adds to my stress.”

In addition to simply diminishing quality of life through lack of sleep or emotional consequences, chronic stress can also have severe health repercussions.

“Research has linked chronic stress with cardiovascular issues, and with anxiety and depression,” said Dr. Linda Chrosniak, a professor of psychology at Mason with an interest in the relationship between stress and health.

Stress can also cause poor health-related behaviors that turn into coping mechanisms. Overeating, smoking and drinking alcohol are negative health behaviors that many students admit to abusing during times of stress like midterm exams or personal crises.

“I snack a lot more when I’m studying for a big test, or if I’m worried about a grade. And I have plenty of friends who will go smoke a cigarette to relax, or go to the bar to unwind after a long week,” Donaghey said. “It’s funny, though, because those things never really seem to help. Not in the long run, anyway.”

Stress can have cognitive effects as well, which is important for students trying to learn new information and do well on exams.

“Stress can affect hippocampal functions, which is tied to the consolidation of memories,” Chrosniak said.

The wide-ranging effects of stress, from cardiovascular disease, to poor health habits to memory, make it all the more important to develop effective coping skills.

“Stress is unpleasant, of course, and I can tell it causes negative effects in my health. But what can we do? The world we live in is stressful; there isn’t a way to avoid everything that might stress us out,” said junior art and visual technology major Britni Petersen.

Just because a student’s lifestyle is stressful does not mean the student has to be stressed. Coping strategies can turn around an ordinarily stressful situation, and help students embrace the opportunities in their busy lives.

“You can have all the health behaviors, but if you don’t cope well then stress can still have a negative effect on your health,” Chrosniak said.

Anderson has decided to make a few life changes; she is tired of being constantly stressed out.
“I’m going to spend a lot more time with my friends and relaxing. I can’t change how busy I am during the day, but I can change my mood and my mindset,” she said.

For students looking for more information on stress and coping strategies, the Counseling and Psychological Services website offers tips.

Photo: Morgue File