Many undergraduates at the University of Limerick are suffering high stress and anxiety throughout their college careers, according to the preliminary findings of a study of 1,000 students. The study also shows that, although their physical status is normal for their age group, UL students engage in relatively few health sustaining or improving activities.
The study was conducted by the Mid-Western Health Board on behalf of the Health Promoting College Project which was launched recently at Limerick's Mary Immaculate College. The mental health status of students is a cause of concern, says Peadar Cremin, acting head of the department of education at Mary Immaculate College. Many young people are coming through an extremely pressurised second-level system, he says. When they arrive at third level they find more stress.
"There is now a strong work ethic on campus," says Cremin. "There is an orientation on getting ahead and on doing well, all of which increase the pressure."
Continuous assessment systems have increased pressures. "Many members of the educational community are concerned that personal space and the time for personal growth may be suffering in the face of the lure of higher grades," he says.
The results of the survey are of no surprise, according to Bobby O'Connor, president of UL's Students Union. "Academic standards are quite high, but so are attrition levels," he says. "I'd put the blame on the college and the system. The UL ethos is based on elitism and the attainment of high of grades to further your career prospects." This, he says, creates a highly competitive environment which makes students extremely selfish and unwilling to help each other.
The regime can also lead to mental health problems and low participation in college societies and clubs. For many highly stressed students, alcohol is the only release, says O'Connor.
"UL's sports facilities are among the best in the country," he says, "but people don't have the time to use them. We need a culture change. Maybe our new president will change the culture."
According to UCD psychologist Dr Aidan Moran, continuous assessment systems are designed to reduce the pressure of end-of-year exams. However, unless students get regular feedback the system can backfire, he believes.
Moran was involved in a study of 1,100 UCD students in 1991. "About 40 per cent of students claimed that they weren't doing enough study, yet one-third said that they weren't getting enough feedback," he says. "If you don't get feedback you never know when enough is enough. Feedback is critical and without it continuous assessment won't reduce stress."
