“Don’t think about it” might become a more relevant phrase to Ohio University students who are trying to cope with stress as finals week approaches.
Results from a recent study at OU showed increased levels of C-reactive proteins from participants thinking about stress during mock interviews while those that used distractions were less stressed, said Peggy Zoccola, an assistant professor of psychology.
C-reactive proteins are created in the liver as part of the body’s immune system’s inflammatory response to trauma, injury and infections.
“This is relevant to college students because we all experience stressful events, such as job interviews, public presentations and more,” Zoccola said.
According to an article from USA Today, 39 percent of people between the ages 18 and 34 say their stress has increased within the past year and 52 percent say stress keeps them from falling asleep.
Some OU students said they felt stressed to the point of experiencing physical symptoms.
“I have always struggled with anxiety, and that always gets worse when I am stressed out,” said Victoria Mark, a sophomore studying music therapy. “I have experienced panic attacks, my hair falling out, losing weight because I forget to eat and just not being able to focus.”
Mark said she thinks college students in the current generation are experiencing more stress because of different factors such as academics and the state of the economy, in which uncertainty for future employment adds pressure.
“I think it does add to the ‘normal’ stress that college brings,” she added.
In contrast to Mark, Preston Brickner, a sophomore studying political science, said even though he does not experience physical symptoms of stress, Brickner agrees that his personal stress level has increased.
“Now, school matters a lot more toward getting either a job or going to grad school, so it’s always on my mind as well,” he said.
Sheila Williams, a clinical mental health counselor at Counseling and Psychological Services, believes stress is more prominent for college students.
“I would say in the recent past, students have increased in stress not just at Ohio University, but nationally as well,” Williams said.
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