Examining Academic Stress and Mental Health Challenges among University Students in Bathinda, Punjab: Insights from Demographic Factors

Description

Mahajan, Rebeka Debbarma, Swati, Pankaj Sharma, and Saksham Kesarwani (Department of Psychology, Central University of Punjab)

The present study addresses the associations between demographic variables and some essential psychological constructs, such as levels of academic stress, self-esteem, emotional intelligence, and personality, among university students in Punjab, India. While the existing literature highlights the prevalence of academic stress in India, research investigating its association with socio-demographic factors, particularly among university students in regions like Punjab, remains limited. To address this gap, the present study was conducted on a sample of 802 young adults (362 males & 440 females) selected through a multistage sampling technique from universities in the Bathinda district of Punjab. The finding revealed that the socio-demographic variables of education, accommodation, migration, family income, and family environment had an effect on academic stress. Self-esteem was found to be associated with gender, academic discipline, education, accommodation, migration, and family income. Emotional intelligence showed a significant association with the areas of living, migration, and family environment. Moreover, the personality dimensions of agreeableness and conscientiousness were significantly associated with most of the demographic factors. However, birth order of the individual was not significantly associated with any of the studied variables.