CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

1.2.1 Definition of Stress

According to Jay W. Marks (2011) , Stress is a feeling that’s created when we react with particular events or problems. It’s the body’s way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength and heightened alertness.

In general, stress is related to both external and internal factors. External factors include physical environment – including job, relationship with others, home, challenges, difficulties and expectations you’re confronted with on a daily basis.
Internal factors determine your body ability to respond to or deal with the external stress-inducing factors.

Stress is simply a fact of nature. The individual responds to stress in ways that affect the individual as well as their environment.

1.2.2 Symptoms of Stress

According to the article Understanding Stress by Melinda Smith, Robert Segal and Jeanne Segal (November 2012) , Stress is a common problem among people nowadays especially for the women. There are many signs or symptoms of stress. It is divided into four group that is – Cognitive Symptoms, Emotional Symptoms, Physical Symptoms and Behavioral Symptoms.

Firstly is the Cognitive Symptoms. The symptoms are : i. Memory problem ii. Inability to concentrate iii. Poor judgement iv. Constant worrying v. Anxious thoughts

Next is the Emotional Symptoms : i. Moodiness ii. Short temper iii. Sense of loneliness and isolation iv. Depression

Third, the Physical Symptoms : i. Aches and pains ii. Constipation or Diarrhea iii. Nausea iv. Chest pain and rapid heartbeat

Last but not least, the Behavioral Symptoms : i. Eating more or less ii. Sleeping too much or less iii. Isolating yourself from others iv. Using alcohol, cigarettes or drugs to relax.

1.2.3 Possible Causes of Stress

* Being bullied or exposed to violence or injury
Most of the people who become a bully victim in their surroundings always anxious with themselves. They also frightened no matter what in all situation because of the bully problem where it influence their life then the tress arise themselves immediately. At the same time, it also involved their mental and physical of the victim then they felt that its so hard for them to get through their daily life and doing their routines. In other word, they were exposed with uncomfortable surroundings such as injury and violent. Apart from that it will make depression in themselves then contribute to mental illness.

* Family conflicts and Relationship Stress
Someone who involved in the family conflicts will always be weak and having a low self-esteem. This is because uncomfortable things happened in their family such as fighting, spreading rumour mongers with themselves and many more. Divorce and death in family also one sort of problem that causes stress.

* Ongoing problem
As a student, we know that we have so many responsibilities in our studies. We have to think and work hard on how to excel in our examinations and we have to manage our time wisely to study and to do something else. This sometime make us stress wondering how to manage our time. For example, everyday in our college, we have so many assignment to do in a short time and a very pack schedule. Because of this matter, we are stressed out because we are having enough time to do it and having no rest.

1.2.4 Stress Management According to the article on Stress Management by Maureen Staiano (n.d) there are many ways to manage our stress. As a Life Coach specializing in working with women, She teaches the six simple steps in breathing technique to help us relax and can manage our stress easily. Here is the basic technique to manage stress : 1. Sit comfortably, on the floor or in a chair. You will breathing in one nostril and then out the other. 2. Using your index finger (either one) to hold right nostril and breathe in with your left nostril to a count of six. Hold breath for three seconds. 3. Now, closing off the left nostril with your finger, release the right nostril and breath out to a count of six. 4. Still closing your left nostril, breathe in with your right nostril for six counts. Hold for three counts. 5. Then closing off the right nostril, release the left nostril and breathe out to a count of six. 6. Repeat the entire sequence three to five times. By alternating the flow of air through your nostrils you feel an incredible sense of relaxation. This can be done virtually anywhere. That is sort of a way to manage stress. Instead of that, there’s many ways that we can actually practise it, such as – get enough sleep, do your favourites activity, have fun with family and friends and the most important thing to be done is to pray. Those are the alternative ways other than practising the breathing technique.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Modern life is full of demands. For many people, stress is so common and it has been a way of life. Student life is full with deadlines of assignment and many other. Student need to deal or cope with challenges and to perform well in their studies and extra co-curricular activity. When it comes to academic, student especially the female students, they tend to stress-out easily because of the pressure from their parents to obtain Straight-A result and so do the lecturers and peers. Some student manage to face-off the obstacles while the other stumble. Hey experience stress and this usually leads to their inability to focus in their studies. Stress among student is sort of a major problem too. Thus, it is the purpose of this study to investigate and discuss the problem.

1.3 RESEARCH PROBLEM

Objectives of our research is to : * To see if the student know how to manage their stress * To find out solution or ways to help student managing their stress * To know the causes of stress among female students * To investigate how stress affects students’ academic performance

CHAPTER 2 : Research Methodology 2.1 Sample The sample for our research consisted of 11 males and 49 females. The students were 14 Module 1, 9 Module 2, 20 Module 3 and 17 Accountancy. 2.2 Collection of Data We collected the data by distributing the questionnaire in the class and hostel blocks. We met them personally in their dorms and class. We left the questionnaire to them for 15mins or less and we collected them back. In the process of collecting the data, we encountered several problems few students did not answer question number 7 and we only get a few of male student to answer the questionnaire. 2.3 Analysis of Data We analysed the responses from the students using bar graph and pie chart.