TIME magazine covers what they call "Generation M" - M for multitasking - made up of overstimulated teenagers who constantly split their time and attention between instant messaging, Facebook, Myspace, their iPods, cell phone and blogs.
Psychologists say this kind of multitasking is easier for young adults than children or older people because of development in a certain area of the brain, and is also a lot less efficient than focusing on one task at a time.
When people try to perform two or more related tasks either at the same time or alternating rapidly between them, errors go way up, and it takes far longer—often double the time or more—to get the jobs done than if they were done sequentially, says David E. Meyer, director of the Brain, Cognition and Action Laboratory at the University of Michigan: "The toll in terms of slowdown is extremely large—amazingly so." Meyer frequently tests Gen M students in his lab, and he sees no exception for them, despite their "mystique" as master multitaskers. "The bottom line is that you can't simultaneously be thinking about your tax return and reading an essay, just as you can't talk to yourself about two things at once," he says.
Leaving home to start college means lots of big changes, such as moving to a new area, being separated from friends and family, establishing a new social network, managing on a tight budget and starting your studies.
For most students, these changes are exciting and challenging but, for some, they feel overwhelming and can begin to affect health.
The first signs of stress are:
- irritability
- sleep problems
- headaches
- dizziness
- loss of appetite
Too much stress can lead to physical and psychological problems, such as:
- anxiety (feelings ranging from uneasiness to severe and paralysing panic)
- dry mouth
- churning stomach
- palpitations (pounding heart)
- sweating
- shortness of breath
- depression
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WHAT IS STRESSFUL FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS?
The accelerated growth in undergraduate programs has also been felt in graduate schools, resulting in an oversupply of Ph.D.s. Consequently, graduate students, facing poor employment opportunities when they finish their doctoral programs, feel stress associated with the uncertainty of their career choice and future prospects.
Often, graduate students perceive that faculty exert great power over their lives and feel that they live in a state of substantial powerlessness (Altbach 1970). Another source of stress is the difficulty of achieving social intimacy. It is difficult to find a mate or maintain a relationship with an existing one. Graduate students tend to lack the time and/or the opportunity to develop interpersonal relationships (Hartshorn 1976).
Specific tasks that produce stress in graduate students are preliminary exams and the doctoral dissertation. Fear of academic failure related to these tasks is a definite stressor (Kjerulff and Wiggins 1976; Kolko 1980).
Solutions for alleviating distress include improved orientation for new graduate students, more flexibility in core requirements, and expanding the role of faculty advisors
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YOUNG WOMEN IN STRESS :http://www.stressmanagement.com.au/women.htm .
Young women, especially those in their twenties, are among those most likely to be hit hard by stress. At this age, young women often feel the pressure of building a rewarding life, with demands emanating from their careers. At the same time they may be feeling the strain from their relationships. These two signals, often confusing from within themselves, may conflict with each other, causing further stress on the part of the young woman.themselves. Another study involving 40,000 women revealed that most 25 year olds are living close to the edge of a nervous breakdown.The stress levels occurring within this particular group are especially relevant today, as the rights won by women over the past few decades - independence, education, career opportunities – are increasingly prevalent in all spheres of human life.
Studies carried out on women aged 22 to 27 showed that up to 32 per cent binge drink at least once a month and 22 per cent smoke tobacco at least weekly. A further 7 per cent felt that life was not worth living and moreover 3 per cent of women at that age tend to deliberately hurt others or themselves. Another study involving 40,000 women revealed that most 25 year olds are living close to the edge of a nervous breakdown.
Friends and family are often a stress factor, with major pressure points being relationships, money and work - everyone wants the best for their family and spouses, but this is not always easy to achieve.
What many women find to be the most difficult is striking a balance between getting ahead at work, managing life and getting things organized. However, if this is able to be achieved, the life of a young woman is much easier.
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