Who is Affected by Stress and Anxiety?

Stress and anxiety are common mental health issues that affect all college students to different degrees. University students are more likely to experience stress, anxiety, and depression than the general population (Mofatteh, 2020). In a nationwide survey, a large percentage of students indicated that both stress (40%) and anxiety (29%) impacted their academic performance (ACHA, 2019). Underrepresented students, those who speak English as a second language, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual/agender (LGBTQIA) students may feel disproportionately affected by stress and anxiety, even while in active learning environments (Cooper & Brownell, 2016; Freeman et al., 2014; Mak, 2011). Furthermore, social stigma and the lack of diversity in mental health professionals make African Americans less likely than Whites to seek mental health care (De Leon, 2019).

Defining Stress and Anxiety

Stress occurs when individuals feel overwhelmed beyond their ability to cope with a particular situation, while anxiety occurs when students feel worry, nervousness, or other ambiguous feelings caused by unresolved stress (Bamber & Kraenzle Schneider, 2016; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Common types of anxiety include social anxiety, group work anxiety, test anxiety, and classroom communication apprehension (CCA) (England et al., 2017). The fear of being inadequate in front of professors or peers, affects about 70% of students, at least some of the time. CCA, the fear of being inadequate in front of professors or peers, affects about 70% of students, at least some of the time. Social anxiety, which is the fear of embarrassment in social performance situations, affects about 13% of people. Test anxiety, which involves the fear of performing poorly on exams, quizzes, or other assessments, affects about 38.5% of students. Group work anxiety involves the fear of misleading or being misled by team members, or about some students not adequately contributing, especially on graded assignments.

Causes of Stress and Anxiety

Factors that increase the risk of stress, anxiety, and depression include reduced financial resources, reduced social interactions, concerns about adjusting to university life, having the wrong expectations about the university or a particular course, lack of a supportive social network, and lack of support from the university (Mofatteh, 2020). Belonging to an ethnic or racial minority affects a variety of factors which significantly increases the risk of stress and anxiety (Mofatteh, 2020). Pressure to succeed, the fear of failure, and the fear of negative evaluation by the instructor or their peers are primary causes of student anxiety (Downing et al., 2020). Anxiety can also be increased when instructors are aggressive or argumentative (Downing et al., 2020).

Consequences of Stress and Anxiety

Mental health issues can reduce physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being, and lower self-confidence (Boynton Health, 2021; Mofatteh, 2020). High levels of stress and anxiety are correlated with depression and illnesses (Hsu & Goldsmith, 2021). Students with high levels of stress and anxiety exhibit less persistence towards a biology major and are more likely to drop out of college (England et al., 2017, 2019; Muller et al., 2017). Students with high levels of stress and anxiety exhibit less persistence towards a biology major and are more likely to drop out of college. When stress is not properly managed it may increase the risk of being diagnosed with other mental health conditions (Boynton Health, 2021). If left untreated, mental health problems can reduce academic performance, academic integrity, graduation rates, and interpersonal relationships, and can even lead to substance abuse and suicidal thoughts (Boynton Health, 2021; Mofatteh, 2020). Unfortunately, the stigma associated with mental health conditions is a significant barrier towards students getting the support they need; this is especially true for male students and for those belonging to ethnic minorities (Mofatteh, 2020).