Page 294 - Keys To Community College Success
P. 294
get practical
COLLEGE STRESS EXPLORATION
All sorts of situations and experiences can cause stress during college. Furthermore, everyone has a unique response
to any potential stressor. One way to assess your individual situation is to look at the different areas of your life, and
rate how much stress you are experiencing in each at the current time. Use a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the
lowest possible level of stress, and 10 being the highest possible level:
____ 1. Increased independence and responsibility ____ 9. Performance on tests
____ 2. Family relationships ____ 10. Physical health and fitness
____ 3. Friend relationships ____ 11. Mental health and balance
____ 4. Academic relationships (instructors, student ____ 12. Academic planning (major, etc.)
peers, administration, etc.) ____ 13. Career planning and vision for future
____ 5. Boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse relationships ____ 14. Work situation, if you have a job on or off campus
____ 6. Managing time and schedule ____ 15. Current living situation (home with family,
____ 7. Managing money apartment with a friend, etc.)
____ 8. Performance on assignments Total your points here: ________
The lowest possible score is 15, and the highest possible is 150. The higher your score, the more stress you perceive
you are currently experiencing. Things to think about:
■ Ponder what your total score says about your life at the moment. A score over 100 may indicate that reducing
stress should be a top priority for you right now. A score under 50 may indicate that you are currently experienc-
ing tolerable, and even productive, levels of stress.
■ Take a look at how you rated each item, and consider putting particular energy into the areas that you rated the
highest. There are two ways to determine where your energy would serve you best: One, focus on any area that you
rated a 7 or higher. Two, focus on the five areas that you rated highest, no matter what number you gave them.
School and community resources can help you manage whatever level of stress you are experiencing. On a separate
sheet of paper or digital file, write down names, locations, hours, phone numbers, URLs, and any other pertinent infor-
mation for the following resources:
■ Free counseling offered to students
■ Exercise facility
■ Sexual assault center
■ Other resource
Source: Adapted in part from Kohn, P.M., K. Lafreniere, and M. Gurevich, “The Inventory of College Students Recent Life Experiences: A Decontaminated
Hassles Scale for a Special Population.” Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 13(6), 1990, pp. 619–630.
Eating disorders are very difficult to cope with on your own. If you suffer from an
eating disorder, risk asking for help from a counselor who can offer the reward of care
and understanding.
The stresses of college lead some students to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, and
other potentially addictive substances. Although these substances may alleviate stress
temporarily, they have potentially serious consequences.
256