PROMOTING RESILIENCE: ADDRESSING STRESS AND EMOTIONAL DISORDERS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

University students today navigate a rapidly changing educational landscape marked by rising academic expectations, evolving social environments, and significant uncertainty surrounding future employment. These pressures contribute to heightened levels of stress and an increased prevalence of emotional disorders, particularly anxiety, depression, and burnout. Such difficulties can undermine not only mental well-being but also academic focus, persistence, and long-term personal development. This chapter examines resilience as a vital protective factor that enables students to sustain emotional balance, adapt to challenges, and recover effectively from setbacks encountered during their academic journey. Drawing on contemporary theoretical frameworks and empirical research, the chapter explores the complex interplay between stress, emotional disorders, and resilience. It further outlines evidence-based strategies for cultivating resilience at the individual, peer, and institutional levels, emphasizing preventive approaches and holistic support structures. By embedding resilience-building practices within the broader educational ecosystem, higher education institutions can foster environments that promote psychological well-being, enhance academic outcomes, and equip students with adaptive capacities essential for navigating future challenges.