University Stress: The Physiological Impact Within the Human Body

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to explore the psychological impacts of stress on the body of university students. The study is a reflection and application of personal life from a previous prioritization of mental health. The paper answers two questions: In what ways does stress affect the body? How are students affected by stress, and how can school diminish stress? The research uses qualitative research on existing research on the impact of stress on the human body from PubMed and the National Library of Medicine. Data was collected using UCSF Data Abstraction Tool. The study found out that stress is common in university students and often results in burnout, and it has been on the increase. Students experience burnout by putting long hours into studies and working towards paying off loans. Stress has several effects on the body of students by inducing diseases such as cancer, increasing cortisol levels while destabilizing the victim's mood. Universities can offset the effects of stress by providing mechanisms that help students stabilize and readjust. Keywords: Students, stress, university, body, cortisol, stabilization