A Study of Stress among Students of Professional Colleges in Urban Odisha

The present study aimed to examine the levels of stress among students of professional colleges in urban Odisha, with a particular focus on gender and course-related differences. A total of 80 students were selected using purposive sampling, representing two subgroups of professional courses: IT and Management. Stress levels were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) developed by Cohen et al. (1983), a standardized and widely validated tool. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests. The results revealed that the majority of students experienced moderate levels of stress, with a smaller proportion reporting either low or high stress. A significant difference was observed between male and female students, with females reporting higher mean stress scores, indicating gender as a significant determinant of stress. However, no significant difference was found between IT and Management students, suggesting that course type did not play a major role in shaping stress levels. These findings are consistent with earlier research highlighting higher stress among female students and the common stressors across professional courses. The study underscores the need for gender-sensitive stress management interventions and highlights the importance of mental health support services in professional colleges.