The Impact of Neuroticism on Perceived Stress among University Students

Abstract

Academic pressure, social expectations, and uncertainty about the future careers exert a significant psychological pressure on the students of the university. Women students, especially in developing and war-torn countries, can have other stressors of culture, safety, and scarcity. Perceived stress is a subjective judging of situations in the life as stressful by individuals, but this state is only affected by environmental demands but also stable personal traits. Neuroticism as one of the main dimensions of the Big Five personality model is an instability of emotions, anxiety, and a high degree of sensitivity to stress. The research problem of the present study is to address the effect of neuroticism on perceived stress among 300 female students pursuing their studies in Women University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Bagh. Through the existing personality and stress theories, this paper identifies the role of neurotic tendencies in enhancing the stress appraisal and emotional response during an academic situation. The introduction gives a thorough theoretical and empirical background, importance of researching neuroticism in female university students, and also presents the gaps in the research especially absence of institution-specific evidence in Azar Jammu and Kashmir. Results of such studies can be used to shape specific mental health interventions and counseling services to women-centered institutions of higher learning.