Impact of academic stress on the well-being of postgraduate students: coping Strategies

Academic stress is a significant factor in the lives of university students. This study focused on analyzing the sources of academic stress and its manifestations in students, as well as proposing coping strategies to manage such pressure. A descriptive quantitative study was conducted with a sample of postgraduate students in Educational Management and Leadership at the National Experimental University Francisco de Miranda. The "Villasmil and Isea Academic Stress Inventory" was applied to evaluate aspects of academic stress, including the perception of academic demands, deadlines, and the balance between academic and personal life. Additionally, an expert consultation was carried out. The results indicated that students generally experienced a moderate level of academic stress. The areas with the highest levels of stress were the pressure to meet deadlines and academic demands, while the sense of balance between academic and personal life remained at a low level. Physiological and emotional manifestations of stress were minimal in most participants. In conclusion, academic stress affects students in various ways, although the studied population demonstrated a good capacity to adapt to challenges. It was suggested that educational institutions implement psychological support programs, relaxation activities, and stress management strategies like those proposed in the research, to promote students' emotional and academic well-being.