Stress perception of students of administrative and biological sciences in periods of violence: a comparative study

Abstract

In various studies carried out with university students, it has been considered that the primary factors that contribute to stress are: 1) the educational demands placed upon them;
2) the university environment itself; 3) the job seeking process; 4) their interpersonal relationships; and 5) emotional disorders. However, very few studies consider the probable impact that global stressors, such as an increase in local violence, will have on an individual. This study compares the perceived stress of three different university student groups from the biological and administrative sciences, including two groups measured at periods when city violence was considered extreme. The results indicate that there is an increase in the student’s perceived stress in the periods when local violence has been deemed to be high. The increase is more evident in female students when compared to males, independent of the career path selected. It is important to consider the possible impact that an increase in stress might have on the student’s professional formation, as well as on their short and long term health.