Social and study related stressors and resources among university entrants: Effects on well-being and academic performance

Stress is a prevalent phenomenon among university students. We extend research on academic consequences and outcomes of stress by exploring study–leisure conflict (interference between the study and social domains) in our study of student well-being and performance. Using the Job Demands-Resources model, this paper analyzes the psychosocial environment of 225 university entrants in terms of study-related stressors, leisure-to-study conflict, and social support from fellow students. We tested the impact of these three factors on student well-being (as indicated by academic satisfaction and study-to-leisure conflict) and academic performance. The regression results show that study-related stressors increase study-to-leisure conflict and decrease academic performance, leisure-to-study conflict decreases both academic satisfaction and performance, and team social support increases academic satisfaction.
Keywords: Student stress, Study–leisure conflict, Student well-being, Academic performance, JD-R model