Abstract
It is not uncommon for individuals to experience significant mental stress at one time or another in their lives. For students, subjective experiences with stressors can result in a low quality of life, impair one's capacity to deal with everyday issues, and eventually have an impact on academic achievement. The acute consequences may lead to cognitive impairment, greater states of loneliness, and higher states of fatigue, while the chronic consequences may include interpersonal dysfunction and persistent problems associated with physical and mental health. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to determine the relationship between physical activity and stress levels among international graduate students. METHODS: Twenty-four international graduate students from Midwestern State University were recruited based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Physical activity data was collected using a standardized questionnaire, while stress levels was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). RESULTS: Among the participants, 4 individuals fell into the low-stress category, indicating minimal perceived stress. The majority, 13 participants, experienced moderate stress, suggesting a considerable but manageable level of stress. Additionally, 7 participants were classified under high stress, indicating significant stress levels that may require further attention. A significant difference (p = 0.04) was found when comparing stress scores between participants who exercised and those who did not, suggesting that engaging in exercise may result in lower level of stress. Among individuals who exercised, participants who exercised 3-4 times a week had significantly (p = 0.04) lower reported stress compared to participants who exercised 1-2 times a week. With regard to exercise session duration, no significant relationship (p = 0.078) was observed between stress scores and the duration of exercise sessions among those who exercised. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the frequency of physical activity, rather than session duration, plays a crucial role in stress management for international graduate students. Encouraging regular exercise may serve as an effective, non-pharmacological strategy to enhance mental health and academic performance. Future research could further investigate the effects of exercise intensity and type to better understand their impact on stress reduction.
Recommended Citation
Poudel, Sabina and Crossland, Brett W.
(2025)
"Exploring the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Stress Levels Among International Graduate Students,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
17, Article 175.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss17/175
