The Relationship Between Peer Support and Stress Levels Among University Students

Authors

  • Nadia Nur Rozbiah Supriadi STIKes Muhammadiyah Ciamis
  • Nina Maryama STIKes Muhammadiyah Ciamis
  • Irma Hermawati STIKes Muhammadiyah Ciamis
  • Nur Azizah R N STIKes Muhammadiyah Ciamis
  • Rahmat Hidayat STIKes Muhammadiyah Ciamis

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56359/kian.v3i2.586

Keywords:

Peer support, stress level, university students, mental health

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between peer support and stress levels among university students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2025 involving 35 undergraduate students selected through purposive sampling at Institut Kesehatan Rajawali Bandung. Peer support was measured using a validated questionnaire covering informational, instrumental, emotional, and appraisal support. Stress levels were assessed using the stress subscale of the DASS-42. Data were collected via an online survey and analyzed using the Chi-Square test with SPSS version 29.

Results: Most participants reported fair (74.3%) or good (25.7%) levels of peer support. Stress levels were predominantly normal (45.7%) or mild (28.6%). The statistical analysis showed no significant relationship between peer support and stress levels (p = 0.698)

Conclusion: Although peer support is generally considered beneficial for mental health, this study found no significant association between peer support and stress levels among university students. Broader factors such as academic pressure and individual coping mechanisms may play a more influential role, suggesting the need for comprehensive support strategies in higher education.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abebe, I., Wang, Y. W., O’Connor, S., Cruz, T. E., Keum, B. T., & Sifat, M. (2024). Satisfaction with online/in-person social interactions and psychological well-being: The mediating role of social connectedness. Current Psychology, 43(10), 8678-8687.

Ali, A. M., Alkhamees, A. A., Hori, H., Kim, Y., & Kunugi, H. (2021). The depression anxiety stress scale 21: development and validation of the depression anxiety stress scale 8-item in psychiatric patients and the general public for easier mental health measurement in a post COVID-19 world. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(19), 10142.

Allen, K. A., Kern, M. L., Reardon, J., Crawford, J., Slaten, C. D., Heffernan, T., ... & Roberts, S. (2024). Creating a sense of belonging in academia: challenges, facilitators, and implications for university leaders, staff and graduate students. Research Handbook of Academic Mental Health, 436-458.

Armstrong, K. (2025). PASSING THE BAR IN AND THROUGH COMMUNITY: THE SCIENCE BEHIND WHY WE TRULY DO BETTER TOGETHER. Available at SSRN.

Bantjes, J., Hunt, X., & Stein, D. J. (2022). Public health approaches to promoting university students’ mental health: a global perspective. Current psychiatry reports, 24(12), 809-818.

Bradley, G. L., Ferguson, S., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2021). Parental support, peer support and school connectedness as foundations for student engagement and academic achievement in Australian youth. Handbook of positive youth development: Advancing research, policy, and practice in global contexts, 219-236.

Gere, B., & Salimi, N. (2025). Mental Health Literacy, Stigma, and Help-Seeking Behavior Among Black Male College Students in Historically Black Universities. American Journal of Men's Health, 19(1), 15579883251318214.

Haikalis, M., Doucette, H., Meisel, M. K., Birch, K., & Barnett, N. P. (2022). Changes in college student anxiety and depression from pre-to during-COVID-19: perceived stress, academic challenges, loneliness, and positive perceptions. Emerging adulthood, 10(2), 534-545.

He, L., Adnan, H. B. M., Fauzi, A., & Bin Ibrahim, M. S. (2024). The effect of social media engagement on social integration of elderly migrants in China: the mechanism of perceived social support and psychological resilience. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1), 1-17.

Huang, Y., Su, X., Si, M., Xiao, W., Wang, H., Wang, W., ... & Qiao, Y. (2021). The impacts of coping style and perceived social support on the mental health of undergraduate students during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in China: a multicenter survey. BMC psychiatry, 21, 1-12.

Hussain, S. (2024). The Multifaceted Impact of Academic Pressure on the Mental Health and Well-being of University Students in Pakistan: Exploring the Interplay of Systemic Factors, Individual Vulnerabilities, and Coping Mechanisms. International Research Journal of Education and Innovation, 5(2), 8-14.

Hyseni Duraku, Z., Davis, H., & Hamiti, E. (2023). Mental health, study skills, social support, and barriers to seeking psychological help among university students: a call for mental health support in higher education. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1220614.

Jablotschkin, M., Binkowski, L., Markovits Hoopii, R., & Weis, J. (2022). Benefits and challenges of cancer peer support groups: A systematic review of qualitative studies. European Journal of Cancer Care, 31(6), e13700.

Jenkins, C., Oyebode, J., Bicknell, S., Webster, N., Bentham, P., & Smythe, A. (2021). Exploring newly qualified nurses’ experiences of support and perceptions of peer support online: A qualitative study. Journal of clinical nursing, 30(19-20), 2924-2934.

Johnson, C., Gitay, R., Abdel-Salam, A. S. G., BenSaid, A., Ismail, R., Al-Tameemi, R. A. N., ... & Al Hazaa, K. (2022). Student support in higher education: campus service utilization, impact, and challenges. Heliyon, 8(12).

Khan, A. N., Khan, N. A., & Mehmood, K. (2023). Exploring the relationship between learner proactivity and social capital via online learner interaction: role of perceived peer support. Behaviour & Information Technology, 42(11), 1818-1832.

Lee, C. Y. S., Goldstein, S. E., Dik, B. J., & Rodas, J. M. (2020). Sources of social support and gender in perceived stress and individual adjustment among Latina/o college-attending emerging adults. Cultural diversity & ethnic minority psychology, 26(1), 134.

Liu, X., & Tuntinakhongul, A. (2024). Exploring the Influence of Transnational Educational Policies on Cross-Cultural Adaptability and Institutional Support for Northern Chinese Students in Thai Higher Education. Croatian International Relations Review, 30(95), 36-59.

Liu, Y., Yu, H., Shi, Y., & Ma, C. (2023). The effect of perceived stress on depression in college students: the role of emotion regulation and positive psychological capital. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1110798.

Maqsood, A., Gul, S., Noureen, N., & Yaswi, A. (2024). Dynamics of perceived stress, stress appraisal, and coping strategies in an evolving educational landscape. Behavioral Sciences, 14(7), 532.

McLean, L., Gaul, D., & Penco, R. (2023). Perceived social support and stress: A study of 1st year students in Ireland. International journal of mental health and addiction, 21(4), 2101-2121.

Morsi, W. (2025). Navigating educational transformation: Understanding learning styles’ preferences of Egyptian students in the post-pandemic era. Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 9(1), 52-72.

Pérez-Jorge, D., Boutaba-Alehyan, M., González-Contreras, A. I., & Pérez-Pérez, I. (2025). Examining the effects of academic stress on student well-being in higher education. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 1-13.

Priestley, M., Hall, A., Wilbraham, S. J., Mistry, V., Hughes, G., & Spanner, L. (2022). Student perceptions and proposals for promoting wellbeing through social relationships at university. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 46(9), 1243-1256.

Ruiz, W. D., & Yabut, H. J. (2024). Autonomy and identity: the role of two developmental tasks on adolescent's wellbeing. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1309690.

Sacoco, C. (2024). All We Have Is Each Other: The Impact of Utilizing the RESPECT Approach of Relationship Building in Self-Contained School Settings (Doctoral dissertation, New England College).

Stahl, G. K., & Maznevski, M. L. (2021). Unraveling the effects of cultural diversity in teams: A retrospective of research on multicultural work groups and an agenda for future research. Journal of International Business Studies, 52(1), 4.

Strelecki, A. A. (2023). The Pathway from Adverse Childhood Experiences to Well-Being: Attachment Security and Social Support as Protective Factors (Doctoral dissertation, Marywood University).

Sullivan, C. C., O’Leary, D. M., Boland, F. M., Condron, C. M., Mulhall, C. M., & Eppich, W. J. (2024). A comparative analysis of student, educator, and simulated parent ratings of video-recorded medical student consultations in pediatrics. Advances in Simulation, 9(1), 10.

Sun, Y., & Liu, L. (2023). Structural equation modeling of university students’ academic resilience academic well-being, personality and educational attainment in online classes with Tencent Meeting application in China: Investigating the role of student engagement. BMC psychology, 11(1), 347.

Tesser, A. (2024). Emotion in social comparison and reflection processes. In Social comparison (pp. 115-145). Routledge.

Thabrew, H., Boggis, A. L., Hunt, P., Lim, D., Cavadino, A., & Serlachius, A. S. (2025). Starting well, staying well: randomised controlled trial of “Whitu–seven ways in seven days,” a well-being app for university students. Journal of Mental Health, 1-10.

Tindle, R., Castillo, P., Doring, N., Grant, L., & Willis, R. (2022). Developing and validating a university needs instrument to measure the psychosocial needs of university students. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 92(4), 1550-1570.

Ucheagwu-Okoye, O. M. (2025). Role Of School Leaders in Promoting Mental Health Awareness Among Secondary School Students in Anambra State for Sustainable Development. African Journal of Educational Management, Teaching and Entrepreneurship Studies, 14(1).

Van Zoonen, W., & Sivunen, A. E. (2022). The impact of remote work and mediated communication frequency on isolation and psychological distress. European journal of work and organizational psychology, 31(4), 610-621.

Wiedermann, C. J., Barbieri, V., Plagg, B., Marino, P., Piccoliori, G., & Engl, A. (2023, May). Fortifying the foundations: a comprehensive approach to enhancing mental health support in educational policies amidst crises. In Healthcare (Vol. 11, No. 10, p. 1423). MDPI.

Woreta, G. T., Zewude, G. T., & Józsa, K. (2025). The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectations in the Relationship Between Peer Context and Academic Engagement: A Social Cognitive Theory Perspective. Behavioral Sciences, 15(5), 681.

Worsley, J. D., Pennington, A., & Corcoran, R. (2022). Supporting mental health and wellbeing of university and college students: A systematic review of review-level evidence of interventions. PLoS one, 17(7), e0266725.

Wu, F., Jiang, Y., Liu, D., Konorova, E., & Yang, X. (2022). The role of perceived teacher and peer relationships in adolescent students’ academic motivation and educational outcomes. Educational Psychology, 42(4), 439-458.

Yang, L. (2024). Enhancing emotional health and engagement in Chinese English language learners: an approach from teachers’ autonomy-supportive behavior, teachers’ harmony, and peer support in a two-sample study. Frontiers in psychology, 15, 1356213.

Yang, L., Xiong, Y., Gao, T., Li, S., & Ren, P. (2023). A person-centered approach to resilience against bullying victimization in adolescence: Predictions from teacher support and peer support. Journal of affective disorders, 341, 154-161.

Zhang, X., Xu, Y., & Ma, L. (2022). Research on successful factors and influencing mechanism of the digital transformation in SMEs. Sustainability, 14(5), 2549.

Zhu, Q., Cheong, Y., Wang, C., & Sun, C. (2022). The roles of resilience, peer relationship, teacher–student relationship on student mental health difficulties during COVID-19. School Psychology, 37(1), 62.

Zhu, Q., Cheong, Y., Wang, C., & Sun, C. (2022). The roles of resilience, peer relationship, teacher–student relationship on student mental health difficulties during COVID-19. School Psychology, 37(1), 62.

Zolduoarrati, E., Licorish, S. A., & Stanger, N. (2022). Impact of individualism and collectivism cultural profiles on the behaviour of software developers: A study of stack overflow. Journal of Systems and Software, 192, 111427.

Downloads

Published

24-03-2024

How to Cite

Supriadi, N. N. R., Maryama, N., Hermawati, I., R N, N. A., & Hidayat, R. (2024). The Relationship Between Peer Support and Stress Levels Among University Students. KIAN JOURNAL, 3(2), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.56359/kian.v3i2.586