Perceived Stress and Its Determinants Among a Private Pharmacy and Engineering College Students: A Comparative Study

Background: Stress is one of the most common and significant cognitive and physical responses to challenging situations. The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of perceived stress among students and to identify its key contributing factors. Specifically, the research focused on engineering and pharmacy students at a private pharmacy college in Telangana, India. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using pre-validated questionnaires (PSS-10, PHQ-4, etc.) to analyze stress determinants and perceived strain factors. Data were collected through convenient sampling in classroom settings and analysed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: A survey of 606 students (76% engineering, 82% aged 18–20) found engineering students had higher stress scores than pharmacy (PSS-10: 22 vs. 20; PHQ-4: 6 vs. 5; ASF-35: 79 vs. 71). Stress was associated with gender, year, family history, and native place (p < .05). Among pharmacy third-years, 28% reported moderate and 24% severe stress (p < .001). Overall, moderate stress was higher in engineering (53%) than pharmacy (41%), with mean scores 102.35 vs. 92.15. Conclusion: Engineering students face higher mild stress levels than pharmacy students, mainly due to academics, relationships, finances, and transport. Key stressors include physical activity, conflicts, family, and institutional pressures. Targeted interventions are needed to support student well-being and performance.