Academic Stress and Mental Well-Being in Higher Education
Summary
Academic stress in higher education arises from intense study loads, high-stakes assessments, financial pressures and the transition to autonomous learning. Such stressors can undermine students’ mental well-being, manifesting as anxiety, depression, burnout and diminished life satisfaction. The interplay between individual resources—such as resilience, emotional intelligence and self-efficacy—and institutional supports—including mentoring, counselling and inclusive pedagogy—determines how students cope. International studies reveal that disrupted social networks, unequal access to resources and global crises amplify risk, while adaptive coping strategies and peer support buffer negative outcomes. Addressing academic stress through targeted interventions not only improves psychological health but also enhances academic engagement, retention and long-term career trajectories.
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Academic Stress and Mental Well-Being in Higher Education publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in academic stress and mental well-being in higher education across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Academic stress: Psychological strain resulting from educational demands and performance pressures.
Mental well-being: A positive state encompassing emotional balance, life satisfaction and psychological resilience.
Coping strategies: Cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage stressors and regulate emotional responses.
Social support: Assistance and comfort received from peers, family or institutional resources that mitigate stress.
References
- The impact of stress on students in secondary school and higher education. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth (2019).
- College students’ stress and health in the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of academic workload, separation from school, and fears of contagion. PLOS ONE (2021).
- Gender differences in perceived stress and coping among college students. PLOS ONE (2021).
- The Influence of Emotional Intelligence on Resilience, Test Anxiety, Academic Stress and the Mediterranean Diet. A Study with University Students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2020).
- Eudaimonic Well-Being and Coping with Stress in University Students: The Mediating/Moderating Role of Self-Efficacy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2018).
- The role of sources of social support on depression and quality of life for university students. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth (2019).
- Perceived Social Support and Well Being: First-Year Student Experience in University. International Education Studies (2014).
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