CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

Stress can define so many ways because it depends on perception of people and
surrounding situation. Stress refers to the strain from the conflict between our external
environment and people, leading to emotional and physical pressure. In this 20th era, it
is impossible to live without stress, whether you are a student or a working adult. There
is both positive and negative stress, depending on each individual’s unique perception
of the tension between the two forces.

According to Hans Selye a pioneering Hungarian-Canadian endocrinologist of

Hungarian origin, stress can define as the nonspecific response of the body to any
demand. Hans Selye argued that stress is not sidentical to emotional arousal or nervous
tension since stress can occur under or in response to anesthesia in man and animals,
and it can also occur in plants and bacteria that have no nervous system. Stress just not
happen in human but to the all living things like animal, plant and bacteria.

Through this research, readers will learn more about stress among students in
university. Readers also will be notice about the real main cause that causes university
students to be stressful and the variety of ways will be reveal on how students to
overcome their stress. Moreover, readers will know the purpose of this research through
the conclusion made by researcher after collect and analyse the data.
1.2 Background of Study

Stress has been experienced since ancient times, but it not worse just like in the
early 21st century. Nowadays fact, stress is responsible for more than 50% of all illness.
Despite this, the phenomenon of stress has not yet been thoroughly studied. In order to
coping this problem of stress, it should be focus at in depth of individual lifestyle and
environment. Specific stress management programme can be created after all this step
is done.

The main purpose of this research is to determine the main reasons and
consequences of stress among students in university. Moreover, this research also will
analyze the situation of stress and relatively result the most effective ways of preventing
and overcome with it.

This research will be potentially quite useful to all the universities, especially
in order to be a best university. Besides, this research also can be a guidance for students
in order to prepare them for the challenging lifestyle in university.
1.3 Problem Statement

Student’s life in university is the best moment that should be experienced for
every youngster by revolves around going to classes, studying in the library or in their
own room, getting involved in co-curricular activities made compulsory by the
university and sometimes hanging out with their friends at a mall to have fun after an
exam. Life as a university student basically demands a good time management on the
part of the student. Being away from their family will require them to be independent
and some students need quite some time to get adjusted to their new environment or
they will be homesick or stressed.

One of the reasons about stress among university students is a lot of

assignments. Sometimes, the students need to finish more than three assignments and
submit them at the same times. In addition, the students will not have enough time to
concentrate on the assignments as they also need to do other things such as attending
classes and getting involved in co-curricular activites.

Thus, it affects your ability to concentrate, causes sleep disorders and leads to
depression. Moreover, it will cause muscle tension which your muscles trigger when
stress hormones activate your sympathetic nervous system. Next is hostility, where
once your stressors stimulate your instincts, you start misconstruing other stimuli as
possible stressors. In addition, stress hormones temporarily reduce your apetite.
According to a study by Rutgers University, stress adversely affects your ability to
remember information. When you’re struggling to retain information for midterms or
finals, you could end up stressing out even more.

These factor be the main purpose the creation of this research which want to
find the way to overcome stress issue and every student in university know about stress
management.
1.4 Research Objective

The main objective of this study is to examine facts about stress management
among students of National University of Malaysia in Bangi, Selangor. The specific
objectives of this study are :

i. To determine the influence of university environment on stress among students.

ii. To determine the influence of organized timetable on stress among students.
iii. To determine the influence of healthy lifestyle on stress among students.

1.5 Research Question

The following research questions how been develop :

i. How can university environment help students to manage stress?

ii. How can organized timetable contribute for students to manage stress?
iii. How can healthy lifestyle lead students to manage stress?

1.6 Scope of Study

The scope of this study focus on to find out about stress management among
students of National University of Malaysia in Bangi, Selangor. In this study, we also
focus on factors that influence to stress such as university environment, students
organized timetable and students healthy lifestyle. In order to collect realistic, updated
and practical emphirical data for my investigation, the quantitative method of research
was used. Specifically created questionnaire was sent to target group of student in
National University of Malaysia, such as students in scence course, students in
economics and management course, students in law course, students in Islamic studies
and others.
1.7 Significant of Study

This study must will contribute to body of knowledge and expansion of

knowledge about relationship between university environment, students organized
timetable and healthy lifestyle with stress management among students in university.
Next, this study also will contribute to policy maker in reviewing current policy such
as the top management of the university will change or improve current university’s
policy in order to ensure the comfortness and safe environment in university. Moreover,
this study will resolve about stress problem among the students in university and
relatively will provide a great solution for students to overcome stress problem. Lastly,
this study will give of increase community awareness about stress management among
students in university.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Stress – According to Roger (1998), stress can described as a “pre-occupation with the
negative emotion following the event”.

Policy – According to Merriam (1828), policy is a definite course or method of action

selected from among alternatives and in light of given conditions to guide and
determine present and future decisions.

Environment – Based on Oxford Living, he surroundings or conditions in which a

person, animal, or plant lives or operates.

Stress Management – Based on Phychologist World, stress management defines stress

precisely as a person's physiological response to an external
stimulus that triggers the "fight-or-flight" reaction.

Healthy Lifestyle – According to World Health Organization (WHO), a healthy

lifestyle is a way of living that lowers the risk of being seriously ill
or dying early.