Examples of stressors - Concordia University (2024)

On this page:

  • Physical environment
  • Social/relational
  • Financial
  • Organizational
  • Life events
  • Lifestyle choices
  • Physiological

A stressor is an event or situation that causes stress. Just about anything can be a stressor as long as it isperceived as a danger. (Remember: Stress is a response to danger. No danger ... no stress!)

Below are some events or situations that can cause stress.

Physical environment

  • Bright lights
  • Noise
  • Discomfort due to excessive heat
  • Discomfort due to excessive cold
  • Weather
  • Traffic

Social/relational

  • Rudeness or aggression in others
  • Conflict with others
  • Not spending enough time with important people
  • Lack of social support
  • Loneliness

Financial

  • Taxes
  • Unpaid bills
  • Unplanned expenses
  • The pressure of "making ends meet"

Organizational

  • Overly restrictive rules or regulations
  • School or work deadlines
  • Pressure to pass a course or get a good grade
  • Aggressive or high-pressure work culture

Life events

  • Death of a loved one
  • Losing a job
  • Illness
  • Starting university
  • Work promotion
  • Birth of a child
  • Marriage
  • Winning the lottery

Lifestyle choices

  • Not enough sleep
  • Too much caffeine
  • Too much alcohol
  • Drug consumption
  • Poor time management
  • Poor diet

Physiological



Examples of stressors - Concordia University (2024)

FAQs

What are college stressors examples? ›

May Stressors

Final exams begin; pressure to finish incomplete work. Plans for summer school, travel, work, housing, must be in place. Roommate and social tensions may arise prior to vacation. Sadness over leaving friends, deciding the destiny of romantic relationships for the summer.

Which of the following are examples of stressors? ›

Life events
  • Death of a loved one.
  • Losing a job.
  • Illness.
  • Starting university.
  • Work promotion.
  • Birth of a child.
  • Marriage.
  • Winning the lottery.

What are the academic stressors for university students? ›

You may feel stressed about starting university, exams, coursework deadlines, living with people you do not know, or thinking about the future. Stress is a natural feeling, designed to help you cope in challenging situations.

What are examples of daily stressors? ›

Daily stressors refer to the challenges of day-to-day living, and encompass both predictable challenges, such as caring for a child or commuting between work and home, as well as unexpected events, such as a malfunctioning home appliance, an unexpected work deadline, or a traffic jam.

What are the four types of stressors and examples? ›

The 4 types of stress
  • Physical Stress: This is often the most obvious form of stress. ...
  • Mental Stress: This form of stress is also quite common, and fairly easy to recognize. ...
  • Behavioural Stress: This can be more difficult to self-diagnose. ...
  • Emotional Stress: This is another tough one to diagnose.
Apr 7, 2022

What is the biggest stressor for students? ›

The main cause for stressed out students is the heavy coursework they are taking on. Teens who want to get a jump on college may also sign up for extra classes, only adding to the burden. Too often, the teen takes on subjects that exceed their academic ability, causing added stress. Not enough sleep.

What are 5 common stressors? ›

What kind of situations can cause stress?
  • Illness or injury.
  • Pregnancy and becoming a parent.
  • Infertility and problems having children.
  • Bereavement.
  • Experiencing abuse.
  • Experiencing crime and the justice system, such as being arrested, going to court or being a witness.
  • Organising a complicated event, like a holiday.

What kind of stressors do college students typically report? ›

The challenges that came with that learning environment will likely affect students throughout college, she says, as well as typical stressors like discrimination, harassment and academic challenges.

What are common stressors for a majority of college students? ›

Why are you stressed? College students commonly experience stress because of increased responsibilities, a lack of good time management, changes in eating and sleeping habits, and not taking enough breaks for self-care. Transitioning to college can be a source of stress for most first-year students.

What are the types of academic stressors? ›

These include vague module content, poor internet connectivity, lack of teacher's guidance and motivation, financial problems, stress/psychological pressure, insufficient learning materials, overloaded academic activities, conflict with household chores, personal factors, and poor and inadequate learning environment.

What are the stressful situation as a student? ›

Factors such as homework, social life, perceived parental pressure, university applications, and never-ending workloads all generate stress. Although research shows that a moderate amount of stress can be beneficial and act as a motivator for students to do well, too much stress can impact their overall well-being.

What are the six main stressors? ›

There are six main areas that can lead to work-related stress if they are not managed properly. These are: demands, control, support, relationships, role and change. For example, workers may say that they: are not able to cope with the demands of their jobs.

What are routine stressors examples? ›

Routine stress from the demands of work, school, family needs, money problems, and other daily pressures that don't stop.

What are examples of emotional stressors? ›

Emotional stress, however, is usually caused by an ongoing situation, such as:
  • Toxic, unhealthy, or abusive relationships.
  • Work.
  • Financial issues.
  • Unresolved emotional pain or trauma.
  • Parenting.
  • Loss and grief.
  • Mental health conditions.
  • A medical diagnosis or a health problem.
Aug 24, 2022

What are the three major stressors? ›

The 3 types of stress and their stressors
  • Acute stress. Acute stress is a short-term type of stress that can be exciting but exhausting if it's too intense. ...
  • Episodic acute stress. Episodic acute stress is when acute stress happens frequently. ...
  • Chronic stress. Chronic stress is the most harmful type of stress.
Aug 24, 2023

What are personal stressors? ›

Personal stressors are events or conditions that occur in a person's life that may adversely impact on the individual's or their family's health or wellbeing. A stressor may occur directly, such as personally experiencing a serious illness, or indirectly, such as having a family member with a serious illness.

What is an example of a stressor? ›

Any major life change can be stressful -- even a happy event like a wedding or a job promotion. More unpleasant events, such as a divorce, major financial setback, or death in the family can be significant sources of stress.

What are 4 daily stressors? ›

Anticipated daily stressors include, for example, driving in rush hour traffic on the way home from work, paying bills, working long hours, job performance evaluations, or taking children to after-school activities.

What are the 15 stressors for college students? ›

What Causes Stress Among College Students?
  • Living away from home/living among strangers. ...
  • Academic demands and test anxiety. ...
  • Finances. ...
  • Post graduation plans. ...
  • Roommate negotiations and mediation. ...
  • Relationships (family and romantic)

What are some common stressors in your life? ›

Top 10 stressors in life
  • Death of a spouse. ...
  • Divorce. ...
  • Marital separation. ...
  • Being incarcerated. ...
  • Death of a close family member. ...
  • Major personal injury or illness. ...
  • Marriage. ...
  • Being fired or laid off from work.
Jul 27, 2022

Which of the following are common college stressors? ›

Below we've listed the seven most common reasons students find themselves overwhelmed and stressed throughout the school year.
  • Finances. ...
  • Homesickness and New Levels of Independence. ...
  • Living Among Strangers. ...
  • Coursework and Exams. ...
  • Loss and Grief. ...
  • Social Obligations. ...
  • Romantic Relationships.
Mar 29, 2022

What are the stressors in life as a student? ›

Factors such as homework, social life, perceived parental pressure, university applications, and never-ending workloads all generate stress. Although research shows that a moderate amount of stress can be beneficial and act as a motivator for students to do well, too much stress can impact their overall well-being.

What is the number one stressor college students report? ›

CharacteristicPercentage of respondents
Concerns about money46%
Balancing school and work obligations41%
Balancing school and family obligations27%
Concerns about finding a job26%
3 more rows
Nov 29, 2023

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