All Conference Presentations, Performances and Exhibits
Is Self-perceived Stress Associated with Self-reported Digestive Issues Among College Students?
Location
Guzman Lecture Hall
Start Date
4-15-2016 4:30 PM
End Date
4-15-2016 5:30 PM
Student Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor(s)
Michaela George, Ph.D., MPH
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
The transition from high school to college can be very stressful for students. For example, adjusting to new living situations, accepting new and more personal responsibilities, and keeping up with the demands of academic work in college can add a tremendous amount of stress to a students life that did not exist in high school. Stress has been defined in many ways. In regards to a medical or biological context stress is defined as a physical, mental, or emotional factor that creates bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure). (1) Stress has been associated with numerous diseases including (3 examples). It is well documented that people who report high levels of stress tend to have fewer protective antibodies against infectious diseases (2). In the fall of 2015, 20.2 million students are expected to attend American colleges and universities, constituting an increase of about 4.9 million since the fall of 2000 (3) This a large increase in the susceptible population, and therefore require public health attention. However, the relationship between stress and digestive problems is not very well documented, especially during this period of high stress in college students’ lives. In the literature, stress has been associated to digestive disorders such as ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional gastrointestinal disorders (4). The objective of my study is to find an association between stress and digestive problems in a representative sample of college students. My project will utilize the Perceived Stress Scale, the Self-Reported Digestive Issues questionnaires, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale in order to research the possible associations between stress and digestive problems (5)(6)(7). I am conducting a confidential, online research survey on perceived stress levels and self-reported digestive issues, for college students at Dominican University of California.
Works Cited
(1)"Stress." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015
(2) Nakagaki, Ryo, Yuji Takagi, and Koji Nakamae. "Automatic Recognition of Circuit Patterns on Semiconductor Wafers from Multiple Scanning Electron Microscope Images." Measurement Science and Technology Meas. Sci. Technol. 21.8 (2010): 085501. Web.
(3)"Enrollment in Elementary, Secondary, and Degree-granting Postsecondary Institutions, by Level and Control of Institution, Enrollment Level, and Attendance Status and Sex of Student: Selected Years, Fall 1990 through Fall 2024." Enrollment in Elementary, Secondary, and Degree-granting Postsecondary Institutions, by Level and Control of Institution, Enrollment Level, and Attendance Status and Sex of Student: Selected Years, Fall 1990 through Fall 2024. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
(4)"The Neurobiology of Stress and Gastrointestinal Disease." -- MAYER 47 (6): 861. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
(5)"Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale." Handbook of Disease Burdens and Quality of Life Measures (2010): 4165. Web.
(6) Perceived. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) Is the Most Widely Used Psychological Instrument for Measuring the Perception of (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
(7)"Relapse Situation Appraisal Questionnaire." PsycTESTS Dataset (2011): n. pag. Web.
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Is Self-perceived Stress Associated with Self-reported Digestive Issues Among College Students?
Guzman Lecture Hall
The transition from high school to college can be very stressful for students. For example, adjusting to new living situations, accepting new and more personal responsibilities, and keeping up with the demands of academic work in college can add a tremendous amount of stress to a students life that did not exist in high school. Stress has been defined in many ways. In regards to a medical or biological context stress is defined as a physical, mental, or emotional factor that creates bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure). (1) Stress has been associated with numerous diseases including (3 examples). It is well documented that people who report high levels of stress tend to have fewer protective antibodies against infectious diseases (2). In the fall of 2015, 20.2 million students are expected to attend American colleges and universities, constituting an increase of about 4.9 million since the fall of 2000 (3) This a large increase in the susceptible population, and therefore require public health attention. However, the relationship between stress and digestive problems is not very well documented, especially during this period of high stress in college students’ lives. In the literature, stress has been associated to digestive disorders such as ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional gastrointestinal disorders (4). The objective of my study is to find an association between stress and digestive problems in a representative sample of college students. My project will utilize the Perceived Stress Scale, the Self-Reported Digestive Issues questionnaires, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale in order to research the possible associations between stress and digestive problems (5)(6)(7). I am conducting a confidential, online research survey on perceived stress levels and self-reported digestive issues, for college students at Dominican University of California.
Works Cited
(1)"Stress." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015
(2) Nakagaki, Ryo, Yuji Takagi, and Koji Nakamae. "Automatic Recognition of Circuit Patterns on Semiconductor Wafers from Multiple Scanning Electron Microscope Images." Measurement Science and Technology Meas. Sci. Technol. 21.8 (2010): 085501. Web.
(3)"Enrollment in Elementary, Secondary, and Degree-granting Postsecondary Institutions, by Level and Control of Institution, Enrollment Level, and Attendance Status and Sex of Student: Selected Years, Fall 1990 through Fall 2024." Enrollment in Elementary, Secondary, and Degree-granting Postsecondary Institutions, by Level and Control of Institution, Enrollment Level, and Attendance Status and Sex of Student: Selected Years, Fall 1990 through Fall 2024. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
(4)"The Neurobiology of Stress and Gastrointestinal Disease." -- MAYER 47 (6): 861. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.
(5)"Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale." Handbook of Disease Burdens and Quality of Life Measures (2010): 4165. Web.
(6) Perceived. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) Is the Most Widely Used Psychological Instrument for Measuring the Perception of (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
(7)"Relapse Situation Appraisal Questionnaire." PsycTESTS Dataset (2011): n. pag. Web.
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