A Peek in the Mind of Young Aspirants of Entrance Examinations

The cutthroat competition to get into top colleges and secure rank often leads to students joining coaching centres to prepare for entrance examinations which sometimes also include leaving the comfort of home and going to a different city.  The students face numerous challenges, including academic pressure, homesickness, and adjusting to a new environment, which are perceived as stressors by many students and have adverse effects on their health and psychological well-being. To address this, a correlational study with cross-sectional data collection was conducted on students from various parts of the country residing in Kota, aiming to assess their stress levels and well-being using the Student Stress Inventory and the PERMA profiler measure of well-being. The data was collected from 505 students residing in different hostels, and the data of 477 students was analysed. The results suggested a significant negative correlation between stress and well-being. Specific relationships between stress levels and many areas of well-being were also discovered, indicating the need for stress management among the students. These findings emphasize the need for interventions and support services to enhance the well-being and mental health of the students preparing for entrance examinations.