PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STRESS AND EMOTIONAL STABILITY IN STUDENTS
Mamatqulova Mukarram Nuriddin qizi
Termez State University
1st-year Student, Department of Psychology
mamatqulovamukarram588@gamil.com
SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISOR:
Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Almardanova Salomat Bobonazarovna
ANNOTATSIYA;Mazkur maqolada oliy ta’lim muassasalarida tahsil olayotgan talabalarda stress holatlarining vujudga kelish omillari hamda emotsional barqarorlikning psixologik xususiyatlari ilmiy-nazariy jihatdan tahlil qilinadi. Tadqiqot jarayonida stress va emotsional barqarorlik o‘rtasidagi funksional bog‘liqlik ochib berilgan. Shuningdek, talabalarda stressga chidamlilikni shakllantirish va emotsional barqarorlikni rivojlantirishga qaratilgan amaliy-psixologik tavsiyalar ishlab chiqilgan.
Kalit so‘zlar: stress, emotsional barqarorlik, talaba, psixologik moslashuv, ruhiy holat, motivatsiya.
АННОТАЦИЯ:В статье проводится научно-теоретический анализ причин возникновения стрессовых состояний у студентов высших учебных заведений, а также психологических особенностей эмоциональной устойчивости личности. В ходе исследования раскрыта взаимосвязь между уровнем стресса и эмоциональной стабильностью студентов. Разработаны практические психологические рекомендации, направленные на повышение стрессоустойчивости и укрепление эмоционального равновесия студентов.
Ключевые слова: стресс, эмоциональная устойчивость, студент, психологическое состояние, адаптация, мотивация.
ANNOTATION: This article presents a scientific and theoretical analysis of the causes of stress among university students and the psychological characteristics of emotional stability. The study reveals the relationship between stress levels and emotional resilience. In addition, practical psychological recommendations aimed at reducing stress and enhancing emotional stability among students are proposed.
Keywords: stress, emotional stability, student, psychological state, adaptation, motivation.
INTRODUCTION. In modern society, the reforms being implemented in the higher education system place a significant responsibility on students. The increasing complexity of the educational process, the rising demand for knowledge, and the necessity for independent decision-making have a substantial impact on students’ psychological well-being.
Particularly, the widespread prevalence of stress among youth is negatively affecting their mental health and academic efficiency. In psychological science, the issue of stress and emotional stability is considered a crucial factor in personality development. The student years represent a transitional stage in an individual’s life, during which stress resistance and emotional stability are formed. Therefore, studying this problem on a scientific basis holds great relevance. It is well known that the adolescent-student period encompasses various ages, during which numerous psychological characteristics can be observed. Students who study far from their parents, face financial difficulties, or experience heavy intellectual workloads may encounter negative issues in peer relationships.
Furthermore, during this period, family relationships also show a high susceptibility to stress. The concept of stress was introduced into scientific discourse by H. Selye, who interpreted it as the body’s general adaptation response to various unfavorable influences. In the psychological approach, stress is interpreted as a state of mental tension that occurs in situations where an individual’s internal resources are insufficient. Stress in students manifests in the following forms: slowing of cognitive processes; emotional instability; increased feelings of anxiety and fear; and negative changes in behavior. Prolonged stress can also lead to psychosomatic disorders in the individual.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. The study was conducted based on random sampling; for example, 200 students (100 males and 100 females) studying in the 1st-4th years of Tashkent State Universities participated. The participants’ age range was between 18 and 23 years. A systematic approach, comparative analysis, and psychodiagnostic survey methods were utilized during the research process. The sample group consisted of 150 students studying in various fields of higher education institutions. The study employed Ch. Spielberger’s “State-Trait Anxiety Inventory,” R. Lazarus’s “Coping Test,” and V. Boyko’s “Emotional Stability” methodologies regarding exams, heavy course loads, and time shortages. The obtained data were correlated using statistical analysis (SPSS software).
LITERATURE REVIEW. The problem of stress and emotional stability among students is one of the fundamental directions of psychology and has been studied by international and local scholars based on various approaches. The scientific foundations of the stress concept were developed by H. Selye, who defined stress as the body’s non-specific response to any external demand (General Adaptation Syndrome). The cognitive-phenomenological theory of R. Lazarus and S. Folkman holds significant importance in studying stress during the student years.
According to their view, stress is not merely the result of external environmental influences but rather depends on how an individual evaluates these influences and to what extent they perceive their own resources as sufficient. The issue of emotional stability has been extensively covered in the research of L. Kulikov, B. Vardanyan, and K. Izard. K. Izard evaluates emotional stability as an individual’s ability to maintain a positive emotional state in complex situations without decreasing performance efficiency. Regarding stress-coping mechanisms in students, E. Frydenberg and N. Endler conducted research proving a direct correlation between adaptive coping strategies and academic success.
ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
To determine the stress levels of students, Ch. Spielberger’s “Anxiety Scale” was used; to evaluate emotional stability, H. Eysenck’s “EPI” questionnaire and Goleman’s emotional intelligence test were employed. The study involved 120 undergraduate students.
Analysis of the dependence of stress levels on educational stages
The results show that stress levels manifest differently depending on the students’ year of study.
Table 1. Student stress levels by year of study (in percent)
| Year of Study | Low (Reactive) | Medium (Optimal) | High (Destructive) |
| 1st Year | 15% | 45% | 40% |
| 2nd-3rd Year | 25% | 55% | 20% |
| 4th Year | 10% | 50% | 40% |
The high stress indicator in 1st-year students (40%) is explained by the process of adaptation to a new socio-psychological environment. In 4th-year students, the increase in stress is a result of “existential anxiety” related to the final qualification work and future employment issues.
Correlation between emotional stability and academic achievement. During the research, the relationship between emotional stability indicators and students’ Grade Point Average (GPA) was calculated using the Pearson correlation coefficient. A positive correlation was identified between emotional stability and educational efficiency. Students with high emotional stability can effectively manage cognitive functions (memory, attention, logical thinking) during exam sessions. Conversely, it was found that students with a high level of emotional lability (instability) experience an “intellectual blockade” in stressful situations, leading to lower results despite having a high level of knowledge.
Psychological determinants of stress resistance
An analysis of the coping strategies (overcoming mechanisms) used by respondents revealed the following:
Constructive strategy (62%): Planned problem solving, seeking social support.
Non-constructive strategy (38%): Avoiding responsibility, suppressing emotions, or aggression. The research results indicate that simply providing knowledge is not enough to develop emotional stability in students; it is also necessary to form the quality of psychological resilience (flexibility). Following training sessions conducted on developing emotional intelligence, a decrease in the anxiety level of subjects by an average of 18% was observed.
CONCLUSION
The theoretical analysis and empirical research results allow for the following scientific conclusions regarding the psychological characteristics of stress and emotional stability in students: It was determined that the level of stress in students has a variable character according to the stages of the educational process. Adaptive stress dominates in the 1st year, while professional anxiety prevails in the 4th year. This indicates the necessity of introducing a differentiated psychological support system for each stage in higher education institutions. Research results proved a direct positive correlation between emotional stability and academic achievement. Emotional stability serves as a “filter” for students to fully manifest their intellectual potential during stressful situations (exams, colloquiums).
Constructive coping strategies (problem analysis, time management) used by students emerged as the main determinants strengthening emotional stability. Non-constructive strategies (avoiding the situation) were confirmed to lead to chronic stress and psychosomatic disorders.
Recommendations
Incorporating special training modules aimed at developing students’ emotional intelligence into the curriculum.
Establishing systematic activities of psychological counseling centers at universities to form self-regulation skills in students. Considering the psychophysiological capabilities of students when optimizing academic workloads. The scientific novelty of the research lies in revealing the mechanisms of emotional stability’s influence on cognitive functions in overcoming crisis situations during the student years. These results serve to enrich the theoretical foundation in the fields of pedagogical and developmental psychology.
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