Stressors of College: A Comparison of Traditional and Nontraditional Students
- 1 January 1998
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in The Journal of Psychology
- Vol. 132 (1), 25-32
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00223989809599261
Abstract
Perceived stress and stressors of nontraditional (returning-adult) and traditional college students were compared. Forty-seven nontraditional students 24–54 years old and 47 traditional students, matched for demographics, completed the Adolescent Perceived Events Scale (Compas, Davis, Forsythe, & Wagner, 1987) for college students. They rated 210 life events according to the desirability, impact, and frequency of the events. Significant differences were found between the nontraditional and traditional students for events in the following categories: academics, peer and social relations, family and network, autonomy and responsibility, and intimacy. Nontraditional students enjoyed going to classes and doing homework more, whereas traditional students worried more about school performance. Peer events, including social activities, had much more impact on traditional students, whereas nontraditional students reported much more responsibility in the home. The results suggest that there are significant differences between the groups in their perceptions of stressors.Keywords
This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
- SATISFACTION AND STRAIN AMONG MIDDLE‐AGED WOMEN WHO RETURN TO SCHOOL: REPLICATION AND EXTENSION OF FINDINGS IN A CANADIAN CONTEXTEducational Gerontology, 1991
- A causal analysis to predict the personal and academic adjustment of nontraditional students.Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1990
- Daily and major life events: A test of an integrative model of psychosocial stressAmerican Journal of Community Psychology, 1988
- Assessment of major and daily stressful events during adolescence: The Adolescent Perceived Events Scale.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1987
- Self-complexity as a cognitive buffer against stress-related illness and depression.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1987
- Women returning to school: The consequences of multiple rolesSex Roles, 1985
- SATISFACTION AND ROLE STRAIN AMONG MIDDLE?AGE AND OLDER REENTRY WOMEN STUDENTSEducational Gerontology, 1983