Graduate Students and Stress: A Life Events Perspective

Abstract

Many identifiable stressors can be associated with commencing and completing graduate studies. Recent research has focused on the relationship between stressful life events and both physical and emotional symptomatology. The present study utilized the Stress Audit Questionnaire as an instrument for quantifying levels of stress among graduate students in six departments at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. In addition, interviews were conducted with 10% of the subjects to gather qualitative data on the experience of being a graduate student. A quantitative analysis indicated that the subjects in this study exhibited scores on the Stress Audit Questionnaire that were average when compared to the normative sample. The quantitative results also indicated that there were differences between the departments, between the sexes, and on the variable marital status. The qualitative results revealed individual student experiences which were unique but which also contained similarities. Common issues related to time as a specific stressor, time management strategies, leisure activities as coping strategies, reflections on being a graduate student and the students' outlook on their future in a professional work environment.