Impact of Self-Perceived Academic Stress on Health behavior among College Students: A Comparison between Nursing and Non-Nursing Students

Background: Stress is a universal problem among nursing students, when it is compared with the general population and students in the other health disciplines. Stress seems to be very common in college life because college students need to ensure their academic survival and prepare themselves for the further career. Aim: This study was planned to compare the impact of academic stress on health behavior experienced by nursing and non-nursing during their course of education. Material and methods: This study used a non-experimental, cross-sectional survey design to compare the perceived academic stress among college students in Tamilnadu, South India. Data collection was done through Google form and the participants received an email in late April, 2019. A questionnaire with two sections was specifically designed for the study. The first section contained questions on demographic variables and the second section includes self-developed questionnaire to assess their levels of stress on five domains. The data were analyzed with the help of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The data computation process was assisted by a Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). A significant P value was set at 0.05. Results: According to the results of this study, it was determined that majority (53 %) of nursing students experienced high level of stress and their living status had strong association with Academic stress Conclusion: It is recommended to introduce the nursing profession to the individuals in the society, support the students against stressors they experience while studying, and conduct activities that develop coping mechanisms.