Recent National College Health Assessment surveys show that stress is the top health factor negatively impacting academic performance.
This is not news to the SIUC Student Health Center, where physicians and counselors regularly see the negative impact of stress and sleep problems on students here on our campus. Excessive stress negatively affects not only learning and concentration, but also health, the immune system, physical appearance, mood and social interactions. Responding to these needs, the Wellness Center provides a stress management program with individual therapies, biofeedback training, relaxation skills and other services to intervene and deal with stress.
These services provide confidential assistance for many stress-related health issues, including sleep issues, for hundreds of students each semester.
More than 30 percent of students surveyed by the NCHA rated stress as the No. 1 reason for poor academic performances such as missing classes and doing poorly on tests or projects. Surprisingly, traditional health issues such as chronic illness, chronic pain, mononucleosis and injuries, along with sexually transmitted infections, drug use and allergies were rated by less than 5 percent of students as factors having a negative impact on academic performance.
Twenty-one percent of students rated sleep difficulties as a factor in poor academic performance. Students also rated anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties in the five top health factors negatively impacting academic success.
Students can improve test anxiety, time management, relationship problems or any area of life that is causing stress overload. Students who have felt ready to quit school because of emotional or other pressures have been able to finish their semesters successfully with support from counseling, skills training or learning new information.
One method recommended by experts is to learn a stress management strategy to reduce the stress response of the body. The body's stress response raises heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar and over activates the nervous system with stress chemicals such as cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenalin released in the body. By slowing down respiration rates with deep breathing, the heart rhythm is calmed and the entire nervous system is more stabilized.
Current research published by the SIUC School of Medicine demonstrates that simply breathing more slowly and deeply for two minutes at a time, several times daily, can enhance overall positive performance (found in "Teaching and Learning in Medicine: An International Journal" and "Depression and Anxiety Journal"). Students really can learn to clear their minds and concentrate despite personal, financial or family pressures.
Self-regulatory techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, imagery and other behavioral tools are also taught at the Wellness Center. If these simple skills are practiced regularly, students may be better able to control physiological functions, thoughts and feelings. Listening to relaxation training tapes may help students to relieve worries, get some rest and not feel exhausted every day.
The stress management program will refer students as needed for medication, physician care, nutritional consultations, substance abuse assessments and other help.
For more information or to make an appointment for stress management, or other health information, contact the Wellness Center at 536-4441.
