Stress and Critical Thinking
It is no secret that college students experience stress. However, stress levels of college students are now reaching an all-time high, according to a 2010 study conducted by researchers at UCLA. Whether the stress is due to exams, parental pressure, relationship drama, or diminishing funds, college students are feeling the mounting stress, and it is affecting their daily lives in multiple ways. Stress alters the body’s ability to perform physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functions, including the essential ability to think critically.
How Stress Affects Critical Thinking
Stress plays a major role in the ability to use cognitive processes and to think critically. As stress levels increase, adrenal and pituitary glands release certain chemicals that increase the heart rate to make the body run from danger. If there is no immediate danger, the stress hormones that were released remain in the body, continually promoting uneasiness and increasing stress levels. When the stress hormone cortisol accumulates too much, it can damage brain cells, affecting memory and other cognitive processes. Stressors consume the brain’s energy, preventing other functions, and create irrational, illogical thought. Stress also overworks the amygdala, the emotion regulating part of the brain, resulting in the inability of the prefrontal cortex to engage in critical thinking.
How to Reduce Stress
Feeling stressed? Here are some techniques that help reduce stress levels.
1. Exercise regularly. To learn more about how college students are affected by stress,
including information regarding sources of stress, symptoms of stress,
2. Get plenty of sleep. and stress management tips, click here.
3. Try breathing/mediation techniques.
4. Eat nutritiously. For more information about why critical thinking is important and
reasons other than stress that challenge critical thinking ability,
5. Journal your thoughts and feelings. click here.
6. Improve time management skills.
1. Exercise regularly. To learn more about how college students are affected by stress,
including information regarding sources of stress, symptoms of stress,
2. Get plenty of sleep. and stress management tips, click here.
3. Try breathing/mediation techniques.
4. Eat nutritiously. For more information about why critical thinking is important and
reasons other than stress that challenge critical thinking ability,
5. Journal your thoughts and feelings. click here.
6. Improve time management skills.