Throughout our everyday we encounter stressors that plays a significant role in the way students navigate their college life (Agolla & Ongori, 2009; Greenberg, 2002). There are a wide variety of reasons of why students experience stress which may include being independent for the first time, balancing academics, work, and extracurriculars, and the pressure to do well. (Khan, 2013).
One of the biggest factors that contributes to stress of college students is the academic rigor. Students may feel overwhelmed with the intense academic workload, the knowledge required to complete their classes, and the perception of inadequate time to process the information (Ekpenyong, Daniel, & Aribo, 2013). Other factors that can affect college students stress levels include their involvement on campus, social engagement, and work-related commitments.
Poor coping strategies may contribute to additional stress and can lead to a negative pattern of behavior and less productivity (Ekpenyong, Daniel, & Aribo, 2013). Students who use substances like Alcohol to cope with stress actually manage their stress worse than those who refrain from substances. Students reported experience more levels of stress and anxiety when using substances to cope with their stress. (Berenz, Kevorkian, Chowdhury, Dick, Kendler, & Amstadter, 2016; Sahker, Acion, & Arndt, 2015