Survey of female university students’ health and stress

The number of people experiencing stress has risen in recent years. Consequently, the development of various stress-related problems is being observed in school education settings. The progress of urbanization and poor community development has resulted in the deterioration of physical ability and strength brought about by the loss of places for children to play. Furthermore, the trend toward a lifestyle more confined to the home and the weakening of children’s human relations due to the decreasing birth rate have led to warping and distortion of body and mind, weight issues due to irregular eating habits, as well as the appearance of antisocial behavior, such as decrease school attendance, delinquency, bullying, depression, self-isolation and apathy. Extreme stress load, which is a major factor leading to manifestations of antisocial behavior, exerts negative physical and psychological effects on children, and has become a major social problem today. Research on various types of stress is being conducted from a wide range of perspectives, and there are many reports dealing with students in school education settings. However, while analyses of tendencies among female students and male students as a whole exist in research on university students, as do surveys comparing male and female students or comparing universities and junior colleges, the number of reports comparing students in sports-related departments with ordinary students is limited. As stress reactions can differ according to the objectives, curriculum, leisure activities and also living habits of students in different faculties or departments, it can be predicted that they will show specific individual tendencies. Therefore, it can be argued that there is a need for comparative analysis between departments in order to obtain appropriate diagnoses. The aim of this study, therefore, was to analyze stress reactions and tendencies in lifestylerelated health of students in different faculties and departments at a general women’s university, to identify the causes of the results, and obtain basic data required for individual physical and psychological health promotion. Analysis of the results showed a tendency for stress levels and QOL to differ according to department. When stress levels were high, physical activity waned, and it was predicted that when specific female physical complaints were added, the situation of stress would become long drawn out, further fostering feelings of oppression and fatigue. As this could lead to the emergence of autonomic and endocrinological symptoms, it is important for the maintenance of physical and mental health that students themselves look at the causes of their stress, revise their own lifestyle habits, and endeavor to overcome the biological reaction to stress