College Living Environments and Stress: Commuters Versus On-Campus Residency

Abstract

Living environment is defined as an on-campus dormitory or
an off-campus residence. How does the living environment effect
the amount of stress reportedly experienced by college students
based on living environment? My hypothesis is that college
students who share an off-campus residence with 1 + roommates
will report the highest amounts of stress; those who share an on
campus residence with 1 + roommates will report medium levels
of stress; and those who commute and live alone on or off campus
by themselves will report the lowest levels of stress. Research has
shown a correlation between one's living environment and stress.
For this study, a questionnare was distributed to participants
asking the above information and to determine the causes of stress
in the living situations and environments of on-campus and offcampus
dwellers. The results show significance between living
environment and levels of stress. This study may further the
understanding of the relationship between living environments

and stress for by college students, and may help in reevaluating
the treatment of and accommodations for students living on
campus. Universities could gain more insight into the lives and
lifestyles of commuting students and their experience of stress
making it easier to empathize with their situations of commuting.