Links between self-esteem and perceived stressors in university students

Abstract

Following the studies that underpin the protector function of personal resources with regard to stress, this project has analyzed possible links between self-esteem and students ? perceptions of academic stress at university environment. Specifically, we expected to set the existence of statistical differences in students ? stress perceptions about several daily academic issues according to their level of self-esteem (high/medium/low). What academic factors are considered most stressing was studied too. The project comprised a total of 465 university students of several Spanish Physiotherapy universities. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used in order to evaluate self-esteem. Academic stress perceptions were measured by using the Stress Perceptions Scale (E-CEA), which is part of Academic Stress Questionnaire (CEA). Our results suggest that public interventions, exams, and methodological teachers ? deficiencies were, in this order, the main issues that students perceived like stressors. Moreover, we found that the more the student self-worth, the less their perception of academic issues like stressors.