“I Just Feel Overwhelmed” Overall Stress, Course-Related Stress, and Stress Management Among First-Generation and International Students at a Research University

This mixed-methods study ascertained the causes of course-related stress — and strategies to cope with such stress — for first-generation (FG) and international undergraduate and graduate students. Using survey data from a public research university, results show FG students experiencing higher levels of overall and course-related stress — and lower abilities in stress management — than their international, domestic, and continuing generation counterparts. Teaching practices and policies that exacerbated students’ struggles were recognized across foci relevant to heavy and unevenly distributed course workloads, ineffective and unsupportive instructor behaviors, and ambiguous communication about course expectations and requirements. Implications for policy, practice, and research are discussed.