“Anxiety frequently seeks to take center stage while students work toward accomplishment.

Anxiety can be a hindrance on the path to knowledge, but persistence lead to the goal in the long run.”

Anxiety Among College Students

One of the most significant turning points in a student’s life is entering a college or university and associated prevalence of anxiety. University life is characterized by growing responsibilities that signify the start of the adult transition. Typically, it involves finding a balance between things like grades, extracurricular activities, romantic and personal connections, money, and perhaps a part-time job. These essential components of college and university life necessitate flexibility and striking the ideal work-life balance to manage the everyday difficulties brought on by growing demands and expectations (Ling, 2022).

However, common mental health issues including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, eating disorders, and others are frequently associated with this stage of student life. As time has gone on, anxiousness has become more and more common, ranking among the top issues facing schools and universities.

Students at colleges and universities are particularly prone to anxiety. As per the American Psychological Association, anxiety is distinguished by recurrent intrusive thoughts and worries that lead to continuous tension and worry. Similarly, anxiety has also been defined as experiencing a disproportionately high level of concern and stress in comparison to ordinary circumstances, which results in negative thoughts and projections about the future (Tan et al., 2023). Recurring patterns of increased anxiety and fear have additional negative effects, including worsening health, disrupted sleep, and decreased cognitive function.

How common is anxiety among college students?

About 11.9 percent of college students suffer from anxiety disorders, which are the most prevalent mental health conditions. Many of these conditions manifest as symptoms in adolescence or the early stages of adulthood (Tartakovsky, 2022). Among the most prevalent anxiety disorders are (Villanova University 2024):

• Social Anxiety is a pronounced and ongoing anxiety in social or performance settings where one is likely to be judged by others or exposed to strangers. The fear of acting in a potentially embarrassing way makes people avoid these situations. Physical signs of anxiousness are common when the circumstance cannot be avoided.

• A phobia is an irrational fear of a certain thing or circumstance (e.g., spiders, enclosed spaces). If the fear of the thing or circumstance results in regular distress or a major disturbance of routine, activities, or relationships, treatment is advised.
• Panic Disorder is characterized by frequent, unexpected, acute, and abrupt experiences of dread and anxiety. College students are among the most vulnerable age groups for panic disorder since the illness is typically identified in the early stages of adulthood.
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterised by overwhelming, uncontrollably fearful concern over ordinary life occurrences. Three to five per cent of people are affected by GAD.

Anxiety As a Disorder

While the other anxiety disorders may initially manifest or get triggered during the demanding college years, social anxiety frequently starts in infancy or adolescence (typically around ages 7–14). However many students are susceptible to experiencing significant levels of worry during their college years, even if they are not diagnosed with a particular anxiety condition. 63 per cent of American college students said they had experienced “overwhelming anxiety” in the previous year, according to a 2018 poll.

A little over 23% said they had received a mental health professional’s diagnosis or treatment during the previous 12 months. In recent years, anxiety among college students has increased. A modest 2020 research discovered that the COVID-19 epidemic has raised stress and anxiety in 71% of college students (Tartakovsky, 2022).

Prevalence of anxiety among college students

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress that has different effects on different people. High levels of anxiety are associated with several illnesses, including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, and phobias, according to the American Psychiatric Association (2013). Anxiety is frequently accompanied by symptoms such as restlessness, exhaustion, irritation, trouble focusing, problems sleeping, muscular tension, tremors or shaking, and chest discomfort (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). For anybody, anxiety may therefore become a crippling and distracting weight.

Anxiety and other mental health problems are more common among college students. According to research, more than one-third of college students struggle with a mental health issue regularly, and many of them go untreated. Furthermore, a survey found that while one-third of college students had at some time in their life received mental health care, just 20% of that group is actively receiving treatment (Pedrelli et al., 2015). These suggest that college students who have mental health problems might not be aware of available treatment choices or could be reluctant to ask for them.

Causes of Anxiety among College Students

A college student may develop anxiety and other mental health problems as a result of a variety of pressures. College students can experience stress due to a variety of factors, including social interactions, financial commitments, and academic overload. According to research, the financial strain that many college students experience from tuition and other costs can hurt their academic performance as well as raise their anxiety and depressive symptoms. Similarly, another study discovered a strong correlation between anxiety and college students’ worries about their grades and financial strain.

College students may continue to experience anxiety as a result of this stressor when tuition costs rise over time. College students’ stable mental health may also be influenced by their social contacts, in addition to the stress brought on by their financial commitments (Mofatteh, 2021). Many students may have varied social connections because most colleges have a diverse student population. According to one study, relationship issues among college students may be a good indicator of anxiety since they may be brought on by emotions of embarrassment or shame.

Students at college might feel the desire for social approval, which could lead to withdrawal or conformity. Academic performance may be enhanced by students who have a high desire for social acceptability; but, if this need is not satisfied, they may feel alone. It may be especially challenging to deal with emotions like loneliness and anxiety brought on by societal demands and financial difficulties when they are coupled with challenges from academic expectations.

Focus, concentration, and getting enough sleep are all necessary for academic achievement. However excessive anxiety can also cause restlessness, blurred vision, and disturbed sleep (APA, 2013). Academic performance may be impacted by any one of these symptoms. While anxiety may be caused by a variety of variables in the general population, college students may be particularly affected by their pursuit of academic success.

Concerns about academics and anxiety were closely associated with college students. These issues can include handling the demands of the course, time management, or performance standards. A college student is more likely to have elevated anxiety due to the combination of financial strains, social interactions, and academic demands (Naceanceno et al., 2021).

How Anxiety Is Treated on College Campuses

Numerous options are available on college campuses to support your mental health needs. It’s crucial to familiarise yourself with the services offered by your institution. Campus counselling centres, which offer examinations, treatments, and referrals for mental health issues of the campus community, are an excellent place to start. Make an appointment for an assessment to help decide on a treatment plan by getting in touch with the counselling centre (Mofatteh, 2021).

The mental health professional may talk with you about your requirements and collaborate with you to create a personalized treatment plan that will address your anxiety symptoms and the way they are affecting your life. Since it is so prevalent, specialised treatments are frequently available on college campuses, are easy to acquire, and are either free or extremely inexpensive for students. If necessary, campus mental health counsellors can refer students to the health centre for a medication review. They are also well-equipped to manage anxiety.

Specific Ways to Treat Anxiety

Some specific ways that anxiety is treated are:

Therapy: During therapy, you will discuss your challenges and create a strategy to help you discover appropriate coping mechanisms for your particular anxiety symptoms (Freidman, 2023). Exposure therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are two popular therapy techniques.

For anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, is the most popular kind of treatment. Among many other disorders, research has demonstrated its efficacy in treating panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, and generalised anxiety disorder. As the name implies, exposure therapy involves exposing you to the events or things that make you feel afraid (Smith and Segal., 2024). The theory behind this is that as you become more accustomed to the situation, you’ll feel less anxious and more in control of it.

• Medication: Sometimes, anxiety is treated with anxiety drugs, which can help to avoid episodes of severe symptoms. If medicine is to be used in the treatment plan, it might be determined by a medical practitioner or a psychiatrist after an examination (Freidman, 2023).
• Exercise: Regular aerobic exercise has been demonstrated by scientists to lower general stress levels, increase and stabilise mood, enhance sleep quality, and boost self-esteem. Aerobic exercise can start to have anti-anxiety benefits after around five minutes (Freidman, 2023). Regular use of relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness meditation, can lower anxiety and improve emotions of emotional well-being.
• Natural Remedies: Anxiety may be effectively treated with natural methods such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness training, a healthy diet, support groups, and spirituality (Freidman, 2023).

Join Genfosight on your journey through higher education, where we offer insightful advice, helpful tools, and unwavering support to help you overcome anxiety, navigate the difficulties of student life, and succeed both academically and personally by learning from a variety of perspectives, expanding your knowledge, and overcoming any barriers that may be standing in your way.

FAQs

1. What are the 3 P’s of anxiety?

Pervasiveness, Permanence, and Personalization are the three P’s of anxiety.

2. What proportion of students in college experience anxiety?

The range of the overall prevalence of anxiety among college and university students was 7.40 to 55.00%, with a median of 32.000%. According to subgroup studies, being in Asia as opposed to Europe, being a female, and being an undergraduate were all linked to higher levels of anxiety. The results showed that 44% of students had signs of depression, 37% had anxiety disorders, and 15% had thought about suicide seriously in the previous year. These are the highest percentages ever recorded in the survey’s 15-year history.

3. Which psychological condition affects college students the most frequently?

Among all psychiatric issues that affect college students, anxiety disorders are the most common, accounting for around 11.9% of cases.

4. How common is anxiety in the statistics?

Some 301 million people worldwide, or almost 4% of the total population, are thought to suffer from an anxiety illness, according to Anxiety Statistics And Facts – Forbes Health.

5. Why do a lot of college students experience anxiety?

Apart from taking part in extracurricular activities and working part- or full-time jobs, students frequently have to handle a lot of assignments. Choosing a new career based on their educational objectives can be stressful for students, too.

6. What is the 3 3 3 rule of anxiety?

It’s a basic approach that can help us focus and ground when fear overwhelms us. It’s also easy to remember and apply in the moment. We can usually find it readily available. To put it simply, you move three separate body parts, name three things you can see, and name three things you can hear.

7. What is the anxiety-related 5 5 5 rule?

The 5 5 5 rule is similar to the 3 3 3 rule in that it calls for five seconds of deep inhalation, five seconds of holding the breath, and five seconds of exhalation.

8. Which four C’s apply to anxiety?

More precisely, we anticipate a negative correlation with anxiety and a positive correlation with the other four C’s: competence, confidence, character, and connection.

9. What concern surrounds the 80-20 rule?

80% of your stress is produced by 20% of your everyday activities, tasks, and interactions. Thus, all you have to do to eliminate stress from your life is figure out which 20% of your duties cause the greatest stress.

References

1. American Psychiatric Association, (2013). “Desk reference to the diagnostic criteria from DSM-5”.
2. Freidman, M., (2023). “Anxiety in College Students: Signs, Symptoms & Treatments”. Choosing Therapy. https://www.choosingtherapy.com/anxiety-in-college-students/
3. Ling, S. O., (2022). “Universities need policies and practices to tackle work-life balance”. Times Higher Education. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/universities-need-policies-and-practices-tackle-worklife-balance
4. Mofatteh, M., (2021). “Risk factors associated with stress, anxiety, and depression among university undergraduate students”. AIMS public health, Vol. 8, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.3934%2Fpublichealth.2021004
5. Naceanceno, K.D., Capps, S.K., Whittenburg, R. and Ortiz, A., (2021). “A Comparison of Anxiety Levels Among College Students”. Journal of Graduate Education Research, Vol. 2, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs40596-014-0205-9
6. Pedrelli, P., Nyer, M., Yeung, A., Zulauf, C. and Wilens, T., (2015). “College students: mental health problems and treatment considerations”. Academic psychiatry, Vol. 39, Issue 5. https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs40596-014-0205-9
7. Smith, M., and Segal, J., (2024). “Therapy for Anxiety Disorders”. HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/therapy-for-anxiety-disorders.htm
8. Tan, G. X. D., Soh, X. C., Hartanto, A., Goh, A. Y. H., and Majeed, N. M., (2023). “Prevalence of anxiety in college and university students: An umbrella review”. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, Elsevier, Vol. 14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100658
9. Tartakovsky, M. (2022). “Depression and Anxiety Among College Students”. PsychCentral. https://psychcentral.com/depression/depression-and-anxiety-among-college-students
10. Villanova University, (2024). “Anxiety Disorders”. https://www1.villanova.edu/university/health-services/health-wellness-resources/anxiety-disorders.html

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Photographs – Members of Genfosight & the sources mentioned.

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