23rd Annual Student Research Conference
An Assessment of Stress and Stressors of Truman State University Students in 2009
Jennifer A. Graves
Dr. Roberta Donahue, Faculty Mentor
Stress is a leading contributor to disease among young adults in the United States. The Missouri College Health Behavior Survey (MCHBS) is conducted annually by the Partners in Prevention Coalition to assess health-related behaviors among this population. This presentation will address the self-reported stress and stressors of Truman students on the 2009 MCHBS (n=290). Students reported a wide range of stressors such as academics, finances, jobs, relationships, roommates, and future plans. Reported coping mechanisms included both positive choices such as exercise, laughter, and list making, and potentially negative choices such as eating unhealthy foods, sleeping through obligations and consuming alcohol. The analysis includes a description of how helpful students found each coping behavior using a Likert scale ranging from not at all helpful to helped a great deal. Students and faculty may find this information useful in promoting a healthy culture of stress that is manageable rather than overwhelming.
Keywords: stress, health, coping, college students
Topic(s):Health Science
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 5-13
Location: SUB-GEO
Time: 4:15