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The Effects of Stress on College Students
T. Ann Downs
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
1301: Composition 1
Dr. Frances Johnson
November 19th, 2021
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The Effects of Stress on College Students
It has been found that stress has been a factor that shapes and molds individuals into the
people they are today, especially college students Dedra Umberson claimed. The research
suggests that when placed under stress college students may use coping mechanisms and tend to
fall into depression (Liu et al, 2008). Previous articles revealed that stress has a grand effect on
the mind and the body; however, a more dated one is needed. The research has been done by
numerous scientists who say the significance of studying the effects of stress. The purpose of this
literature review is to the many effects that stress can have on the body and those who indulge in
it.
The Nature of Stress
Stress is a form of disruption that is caused when physical or psychological homeostasis
is disrupted by external or internal factors (Andrew Huang et al, 2021). It can be divided into two
groups chronic or acute, and these can determine one's health in which category they reside
(Dalton and Hammen, 2018). Stress can be a very vicious factor if one does not know how to
control it and lives an unhealthy lifestyle (Corinne Reczek et al, 2008). This causes a great deal
of both health and psychological problems to people, more specifically college students leading
them into a lot of vices (Dalton and Hammen, 2018). Placing students in a position where they
become depressed and changes their social behavior (Hsiao- Pei Lin et al, 2011). The nature of
stress can cause a lot of changes in the lives of those who become affected by it.
The Negative Effects of Stress
It is known that health and health practices work hand in hand with each other (Kenneth
W. Griffin, 1993). Various studies have shown that most young adults do not receive eight hours
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of sleep and this is one of the many ways in which stress has a negative effect on the body. The
lack of sleep forces the body to overwork itself causing the body shut down after a certain period
(Leslie Lytle et al, 2017). When placed under a significant amount of stress young adults tend to
move towards substance abuse (Preston L. et al, 2013). When using these substances, it hurts the
body through various ways because if they turn to smoking it affects the lungs. Though young
adults believe that it is for short term relief these substances cause long term effect on the body
(Visser and Hirsch, 2014). Stress itself can affect the activity of the sympathetic nervous system
(Andrew Huang et al, 2011). When placed under stress, anxiety and depressiveness the body
tends to lower the heart rate (Shinba et al, 2011). Stress can cause numerous negative effects on
the body especially if the individual receiving the stress does not have healthy practices.
The Positive Effects of Stress
Among the many negative practices of stress, they are positive practices that can come
out of being stressed (Marci Lobel et al, 1993). Studies have shown tat positive practices can
lessen the effects of stress on someone and their body for example exercising increasing
someone’s mood (Marci Lobel et al, 1993). Positive mood may help mobilize people's efforts to
engage in healthy activities, perhaps by providing the necessary energy and motivation to start or
maintain a healthy regimen (Kenneth Griffin et al, 1993). Positive effects were surrounded by
exercise because helps relaxing the body (Marci Lobel et al, 1993). Though stress is mostly
connected to negative effects sometimes it can have positive effects on both the body and the
individual.
Conclusion
Though stress is something encountered everyday it may be necessary at times to be
successful. It has both positive and negative effects on those who encounter it and works hand in
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hand with the body. Though most people do not consider how close the body could be affected
when placed under stress it does occur more often than it is acknowledged.
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References
Dalton, E. D., & Hammen, C. L. (2018). Independent and relative effects of
stress, depressive symptoms, and affect on college students' daily health
behaviors. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 41(6), 863-874. https://doi.org/
10.1007/s10865-018-9945-4
Griffin, K. W., Friend, R., Eitel, P., & Lobel, M. (1993). Effects of
environmental demands, stress, and mood on health practices. Journal of
Behavioral Medicine, 16(6), 643-661. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00844724
Henderson, R. K., Banich, M. T., Snyder, H. R., & Gupta, T. (2012). When does
stress help or harm? The effects of stress controllability and subjective
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Lin, H.-P., Lin, H.-Y., Lin, W.-L., & Huang, A. C.-W. (2011). Effects of stress,
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temperature, and respiratory rate: Sympathetic-parasympathetic hypothesis
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O'Hara, R. E., Armeli, S., Boynton, M. H., & Tennen, H. (2014). Emotional
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Umberson, D., Liu, H., & Reczek, C. (2008). Stress and health behavior over the
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Vankim, N. A., & Nelson, T. F. (2013). Vigorous physical activity, mental
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