College Student’s Stress and Associated Demographic Correlates

Abstract

Several research studies consistently identified that college student’s experience stress. However, there is hardly any substantive research that compared stress and its demographic correlates among international and American students. The current study, to address the knowledge gap in the literature, gathered data from the participants with multiethnic and cultural backgrounds. It provides perspective and insight into the stressors affecting international and American students and differences between them. The study collected data using a survey instrument from a sample of 221 students (90 international and 131 American students) at a mid-size public university in Midwestern region in the United States. The study findings confirmed the results of prior research studies that international students experienced low levels of stress than the American students. Among the demographic’s particulars, gender emerged as a key predictor of stress among both the groups. In addition, age and socioeconomic background too emerged as significant correlates of stress among students in both sample groups. Lower economic status of students caused moderate to severe levels of stress in both American and international groups compared to high income students.