Graphical Representation of LCU Stresses Score

Running head: FOUNDATION
FOUNDATION
[Author Name(s), First M. Last, Omit Titles and Degrees]
[Institutional Affiliation(s)]

FOUNDATION
Abstract
The research was carried out to ascertain whether it is consistent with earlier reports that
high-stress levels are a major cause of illness and that coping with stress reduces the level of
stress.
Questionnaires were prepared and given out to a sample of students who answered them.
Some tests were also given to the same sample of students. The teacher then summarised the
test results and raw data then made it available to the students. The results were presented in a
table showing LCU stress score, health problems score and coping score. A graphical
representation of LCU stresses score and health problems score, it shows an increase in one
variable increases the other variable. A graphical representation of LCU stress score and the
coping score is also shown. It shows an increase in one variable decreases the other.
The results showed that increased level of stress increases health problems. It also showed
that coping with stress reduces the level of stress. This confirms earlier research that state the
same.

FOUNDATION
Introduction
Stress refers to a state of feeling incapacitation and inability to meet the expectations levied
on you. Sometimes stress can energize and motivate while sometimes being under stress can
be so long lasting that it leads to depression and even physical symptoms like headaches and
sleeplessness (Green, 2000). This research, however, concentrated on the negative impacts
of stress and how people cope with stress. Coping with stress often involve trying to increase
internal attributions and decrease external ones, increasing the sense of personal control over
life events.
Even though stress does not directly cause illness a strong relationship has always been
realized between high levels of stress and illness (Billings, 1981). This may be because of
how stress affects the immune system of human beings, especially during prolonged stress.
Illnesses that are associated with high-stress level include; heart diseases, asthma,
constipation, diarrhea, eczema, functional dyspepsia, insomnia, high blood pressure,
insomnia, backaches, muscle soreness, premenstrual tension, indigestion, hives, fatigue,
migraines, and colitis.
Hans Selye was among the first few psychologist’s to realize the strong correlation between
stress and illness (Gazzaniga, 2012). His wholesome conclusion syndrome comprising of
an alarm reaction stage, resistance stage and exhaustion stage demonstrates the relationship
further. During the resistance stage, when the body adjusts itself to the stress and the level of
coping increases, ability to fight disease is lowered with time and the initial signs of
psychosomatic diseases begin to appear. In the exhaustion stage body resources are depleted
and resistance drops below the required level. At this stage, unless stress management is
sought, there may be the occurrence of illnesses or even eventual collapse.

FOUNDATION
The research aims at investigating the hypotheses that the higher the level of stress, the higher
the chances of getting an illness and the higher the level of coping with stress, the lower the
stress level (Sapranaviciute, 2012).
Method
The sample was composed of thirteen participants who were students. The gender
composition was eleven female and two male between the age of seventeen to twenty-one.
They were from different nationalities that are China, Vietnam, India, Sweden, Indonesia,
and America. The students were selected because it is believed students a large amount of
stress due to demanding school work and coping with social life at the same time. The sample
was diverse enough to be taken as a representation of the larger population. The participation
was voluntary.
Materials which were deployed included: stress scale of students, LCU score interpretation
(one copy per participant), stress questionnaire response or strategy, summary of raw
information and data and pen or pencil for each participant.
A questionnaire was used to collect the data. Sampling method was a random sampling.
Results
The collected data showed that the mean LCU stress score was 242, the median was found to
be 233, the highest score was 369 and the least score was 149. For health problems score, the
mean was found to be 12.6. mode 12, median 12 and the highest and lowest score were found
to be 26 and 2 respectively. For coping score the data collected showed the mean score to be
10.92, mode 13, median 10 and the highest and lowest scores were found to be 17 and 6
respectively.