Pages 2021-1 FInal.cdr The recent outbreak of COVID-19 virus has resulted in the sudden suspension of schools, colleges, universi�es and other government ins�tu�ons. Amidst these hard �mes, teachers have been u�lizing e- learning pla�orms to impart educa�on to the students. The dras�c change from tradi�onal real-�me teaching to virtual learning has created a greater impact among students. The current digital learning methodologies are uncommon to most students. The study aims to assess the University students' stress levels, during the COVID-19 pandemic with the following objec�ves. · To analyze the most common stress causing variables. · To conduct gender wise stress analysis. METHODOLOGY The study solely depended upon the primary data. Undergraduates (including professional students) of various streams in Kerala Agricultural University who are studying within Thrissur District, Kerala during the COVID-19 pandemic were taken into considera�on. Data were collected through a combina�on of structured and a self-designed ques�onnaire, administered through Google forms. Convenience sampling technique was used to collect the informa�on from 200 undergraduate students. The data collected from these students were analyzed with the help of appropriate sta�s�cal tools. 6576 Research Note Journal of Extension Educa�on Vol. 33 No.1, 2021 DOI: h�ps://doi.org/10.26725/JEE.2021.1.33.6576-6580 A Study on University Students' Stress Levels during the COVID-19 Pandemic I. P. Deepak* and K. N. Ushadevi* ABSTRACT The current study assessed the stress levels of students of Kerala Agricultural University during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample size was 200. Twenty-four variables were taken for the study which revealed that majority of the students was in a distressed condi�on, during the pandemic period. Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Stress; University; Students; Kerala *College of Co-opera�on, Banking & Management, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur- 680656, Kerala, India Received : 15-10-2021; Accepted: 15-04-2022 Research Instrument University Stress Scale (USS): In this study, for assessing the stress level of UG students, University Stress Scale (USS) was employed. This stress scale was proposed by Stallman (2008). There is a pre-structured ques�onnaire in which there are 21 variables to measure the stress level of University students over the past month (Stallman and Hurst 2016). The responses for each variable were represented in a four- point scale; not at all, some�mes, frequently & constantly and the scores were assigned as 0, 1, 2 and 3 respec�vely. Depending on the values to each response, individual scores were calculated and scores were classified based on a range of scores. The range of score was 0-63. So, the minimum and maximum score that an individual can pursue is 0 and 63 respec�vely. A score greater than or equal to 13 is predic�ve of significant psychological distress. 6577 Score range defining various levels of stress in Under Graduate students Score Interpreta�on Less than 13 No significant psychological distress Greater than or equal to 13 Significant psychological distress FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION Analysis of Stress Level of Students The stress level of University students was assessed and are presented in Tables 1& 2 Table 1. Score Range of Various Levels of Stress among Students Score Frequency Percentage (%) Interpreta�on Less than 13 94 46 No significant psychological distress Greater than or equal to 13 106 54 Significant psychological distress The result shows that the majority of students (54%) were in a psychologically distressing condi�on during the pandemic. The pandemic situa�on fastens the stress level of each and every individual. So obviously the students are under stress as the prolonged closure of colleges made the academic demands �ghter than as it was. Such a dras�c change from tradi�onal learning to online learning can also create h u g e a cce p t a b i l i t y p ro b l e m s a m o n g students as they do not have any complete Journal of Extension Educa�on Sl.No. Stressors Frequently % (n) Constantly % (n) Total % (n) 1. Academic/coursework demands 17.5(35) 10.5(21) 28(56) 2. Procras�na�on 18.5(37) 8.5(17) 27(54) 3. University/college environment 12.5(25) 18(36) 30.5(61) 4. Finances and money problems 11.5(23) 10.5(21) 22(44) 5. Housing/accommoda�on 5(10) 2(4) 7(14) 6. Transport 10.5(21) 3(6) 13.5(27) 7. Mental health problems 16.5(33) 6.5(13) 23(46) 8. Physical health problems 15(30) 6.5(13) 21.5(43) 9. Paren�ng issues 7(14) 3(6) 10(20) 10. Childcare 4(8) 2(4) 6(12) 11. Family rela�onships 9.5(19) 2.5(5) 12(24) 12. Friendships 13.5(27) 6.5(13) 20(40) 13. Roman�c rela�onships 5(10) 3.5(7) 8.5(17) 14. Rela�onship breakdown 5(10) 2(4) 7(14) 15. Work 11(22) 5(10) 16(32) 16. Parental expecta�ons 11(22) 4(8) 15(30) 17. Study/life balance 16.5(33) 11(22) 27.5(55) 18. Discrimina�on 5.5(11) 3(6) 8.5(17) exposure towards e-learning, as physical l e a r n i n g co u l d n ot h a p p e n . L a c k of s o c i a l i z a � o n a n d r e s t r i c � o n s i n entertainment due to the pandemic also d i s r u p t e d t h e m e n t a l w e l l - b e i n g o f individuals, especially youngsters. Dwivedi (2020) proved that there is an existence of s t r e s s i n s t u d e n t s a s w e l l a s a communica�on gap between teachers and students during online learning in this COVID-19 pandemic situa�on. There are several reasons for being in a stressed condi�on. Some of the most common stress causing variables (stressors) were iden�fied for the study. The most common stressors were iden�fied by adding the responses under the heads of 'frequently' and 'constantly' and the respec�ve percentage composi�on was calculated. The higher the total percentage composi�on, the higher would be the stress associated with that par�cular variable. 6578 Table 2. Analysis of Most Common Stressors A Study on University Students' Stress Levels during the COVID-19 Pandemic 19. Sexual orienta�on issues 4.5(9) 1(2) 5.5(11) 20. Language/cultural issues 7.5(15) 1.5(3) 9(18) 21. Other demands 17.5(35) 10(20) 27.5(55) Male Female Total Frequency Percentage (%) Frequency Percentage (%) Frequency Percentage (%) Stressed 35 64.8 71 48.6 106 54 Not Stressed 19 35.2 75 51.4 94 46 Total 54 100 146 100 200 100 From the table, it is clear that the most common stressors were lack of p hys i c a l a cce s s i b i l i t y to t h e co l l e ge environment followed by course work demands, study balance & other demands (futuris�c thoughts, need for a job etc.) and procras�na�on (delaying or postponing the things that have to be done). Most of the students had been stressed due to academic related demands. Hence, the respondents had suggested providing relaxa�on for submi�ng assignments, projects and all other demands in a lenient manner. For ge�ng the students accustomed with this new setup, online webinars on mo�va�on, job orienta�on, higher studies, valid cer�ficate courses etc could be organized. Sexual orienta�on issue was the least common stressor followed by child care, a c c o m m o d a � o n a n d r e l a � o n s h i p breakdown. Gender-wise Stress Analysis A gender-wise stress analysis was performed and the results are presented in Table. 3. 6579 Table 3. Gender Wise Stress Analysis From the table, it is clear that male students were more stressed than the female students. In Kerala, in general, the society is much concerned about the job status of graduates. Separate a�en�on need to be given to both male and female students, since the male students were more stressed. It is evident from the results of the study that the majority of the students were under stressed condi�ons due to the effect of several stressors associated with the students. The University should take note of the major stressors and formulate strategies to overcome them as a long-term measure. REFERENCES Dwivedi, D Kaur, N, Shukla, S, Gandhi,A & Tripathi, S. (2020). Percep�on of stress among medical undergraduate during coronavirus disease-19 pandemic on exposure to online teaching. Na�onal Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 10 (08). Stallman, H. M. (2008). University Stress Scale. Brisbane: Queensland University of Technology. Journal of Extension Educa�on Stallman, H. M., & Hurst, C. P. (2016). The University Stress Scale: Measuring Domains and Extent of Stress in U n i v e r s i t y S t u d e n t s . A u s t r a l i a n P s y c h o l o g i s t , 5 1 ( 2 ) , 1 2 8 - 1 3 4 . doi:10.1111/ap.12127 6580A Study on University Students' Stress Levels during the COVID-19 Pandemic Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57