Stress in Undergraduate Students at a Public University in Inhambane, Mozambique

Abstract

Higher education students are currently considered to be prone to suffering and mental illness resulting from academic activity. This study evaluated stress in undergraduate students at a Public University in Inhambane, in southern Mozambique. This is quantitative and descriptive research that applied the Inventory of Sources of Stress in University Students to 166 students, mostly female (61.4%), aged between 18 and 45 years. The data analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 22.0 indicated that the most frequently reported stress factors were: problems of a psychological nature; not liking your body; not having material to study; difficulties relating to my colleagues/friends; physical health problems that influence the pace of university life; the country's current unstable economic situation; being alone in public places; family problems, not having friends and not having good study conditions. The comparative analysis revealed that male students, from the History course, who were in the 4th year and in the work regime were the most prone to stress. These results serve as a warning to be concerned about the mental health of students. It is also pertinent to carry out future research to explore other sources,