A stress exposure scale, developed during the first weeks of widespread quarantine during COVID-19 in the United States.

COVID-19 Stressors Scale

This is when people are stressed about the stigma of their age and working in jobs with high direct interface with others.

Identity and Role Strain

The types of stressors experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic include:
- Trauma and loss
- Job insecurity
- Food insecurity
- Escalation of domestic violence
- Exacerbation of pre-morbid conditions
- Disrupted social support systems
- Uncertainty

Types of Stressors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Stress caused by health concerns,  individual situations, and/or societal impacts of the Covid-19 virus. 

University of Delaware

When a paper you read mentions a form of stress, add it here as a bullet point, then create a concept child node defining it. Also make sure to add your reference to this node.
- Emotional Stress
- Stress caused via media
- Climate Grief
- Oxidative Stress
- Covid-19 Pandemic Stress
- Time Stress
- Anticipatory Stress
- Situational Stress
- Encounter Stress
- Workplace/Academia Stress
- Gender-related Stress
- Chronic illness and Stress
- Physical stress
- Psychological stress
- Psychosocial stress
- Psycho-spiritual stress
- Generational stress/ Generational trauma

Types of Stress

Anxiety is the most common problem among college students (62.7% of students), and is the most common diagnosis of the students who typically seek help at university counseling services. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into attention the mental health of those affected, and it was determined that the prevalence of a pandemic accentuates or creates new stressors, including:
- Fear and worry for oneself or loved ones.
- Constraints on physical movement and social activities.
- Sudden lifestyle changes.

Aside from a few studies, there is limited information on the exact psychological effects of the pandemic on college students, who have been assessed to be a vulnerable population.

The aim of the study is to identify major stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and understand the effect of the stressors on the mental health of undergraduate college students, as well as identify the various coping mechanisms the undergraduates use.


COVID-19 on college students' mental health: Introduction

Short-term affects of COVID-19

Yasmin, H., Khalil, S., & Mazhar, R. (2020). Covid 19: Stress Management among Students and its Impact on Their Effective Learning. International Technology and Education Journal, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.71410/esapub.itej.2020.8

Covid 19: Stress Management among Students and its Impact on Their Effective Learning

Although not classified as a specific disorder, some researchers have begun to see that global warming is causing mental health problems for many people, especially those most affected by environmental destruction. This idea has been referred to as "climate grief." Climate grief most often manifests as some form of depression or anxiety.

Climate Grief

Oxidative stress is the imbalance of the manifestation of reactive oxygen species and the body’s ability to fix resulting damage or detoxify the reactive intermediates. This imbalance causes a disturbance in the cells that leads to a toxic effect that damages all components of the cell, including proteins, lipids and DNA.

Oxidative Stress

In recent years, access to media content has dramatically increased. Although this makes information more accessible, some studies indicate that exposure to traumatic images can lead to stress-related symptoms.

Media Exposure and Stress

Although not a formal designation, workplace and/or educational settings are often large sources of stress in people's lives. Therefore, it is important we understand how these environments can impact a person's mental health to make these often hostile environments better.

Workplace/Academia Stress

Stress caused by worry about time or the lack of time one has to accomplish their obligations.

Time Stress

Stress caused by an upsetting situation one cannot control.

Situational Stress

Stress caused by anxiety surrounding seeing a specific person or group.

Encounter Stress

Stress caused by the anticipation of an event, assignment, or activity.

Anticipatory Stress

Men and women have different stress resources and report different reactions to stress, both physically and mentally. 

Gender-related Stress

 A large percentage of people have Chronic Illness; the chronic illnesses have significant psychosocial ramifications for both the affected person and their family members. This in return creates new challenges for the field of psychology.


The Impacts of Chronic Illness

 (PTS) describes a general set of symptoms a person may suffer after enduring an intensely stressful situation. Some PTS symptoms are feeling afraid or nervous, increased heart rate, avoiding situations that remind of the traumatic incident, being distracted, having shaky hands, and having nightmares about the incident.

Posttraumatic Stress (PTS)

The feeling of psychological strain and uneasiness produced by situations of danger, threat, and loss of personal security or by internal conflicts, frustrations, loss of self-esteem, and grief. Also called emotional tension.

Emotional Stress

Interpersonal stress during adolescence affects adult mental health. During adolescence individuals form their ethnic-racial identity, pursue romantic relationships, and become more independent. Immigrants specifically may face discrimination and language barriers. 

Interpersonal Stress During Adolescence

Physical stress is the strain placed on the body by physical activity or exposure to environmental factors such as extreme heat, cold, or altitude. Common physical stressors include exercise, manual labor, illness, injury, and exposure to environmental toxins.

Physical stress

Psychological stress refers to the emotional and mental strain that individuals experience as a result of challenging or demanding situations. Psychological stress can arise from a variety of sources, such as work or school pressures, relationship problems, financial difficulties, or traumatic life events. The experience of psychological stress can trigger the body's stress response, which can have both immediate and long-term effects on physical and mental health. 

Psychological stress

Psychosocial stress refers to the stress that arises from the interaction between social and psychological factors. Psychosocial stressors can include events such as relationship problems, discrimination, or social isolation, as well as internal experiences such as low self-esteem or anxiety. Psychosocial stressors can have a profound impact on an individual's mental and physical health, as they often involve a sense of threat to one's well-being or identity. 

Psychosocial Stress

Psychospiritual stress is stress that arises from the interaction between psychological and spiritual factors. It can be triggered by experiences such as a crisis of faith, existential concerns, or a sense of disconnection from one's values or purpose. This type of stress often involves a deep questioning of beliefs, significantly impacting mental and emotional well-being.

Psychospiritual Stress

Generational stress, also known as generational trauma, refers to the psychological effects experienced by the descendants of individuals who have suffered from severe, unresolved trauma.

Generational Stress

This study examines the immediate, or short-term impact of COVID-19 on University professors and students. The article summarizes the experiences of faculty and students across six colleges from three different countries:
- Macalester College
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Okanagan College
- UT Austin
- Sinclair Community College
- Kennesaw State University

The study concludes that findings were varied, as some students and faculty found online learning easier and more flexible, while others struggled with issues like access to technology and stress. Additionally, the lack of hands-on work, like laboratory experience, has affected both students and faculty, and their futures.

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