Examining The Relationship Between Employment and Stress among Irish and International Third-Level Students

Chung, Wen Ling (2025) Examining The Relationship Between Employment and Stress among Irish and International Third-Level Students. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Research on stress levels in the third-level population has demonstrated inconsistent findings, particularly when comparing between domestic and international students. This study aimed to examine the relationship between employment status (employed vs. unemployed), nationality (Irish vs. international students), and stress levels among third-level students in Ireland. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction and main effects of employment and nationality on stress, as well as the relationship between financial stress and perceived stress. A cross-sectional, between-groups design was employed in the present study. A total of 110 participants were recruited through social media and completed an online questionnaire. The survey included demographic questions, a single-item self-developed 10-point Likert scale measuring financial stress, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Contrary to expectations, results showed no significant interaction or main effects of employment status and nationality on stress levels. However, a significant moderate positive correlation was found between financial stress and perceived stress (rs(108) = .30, p <.001). Future research should repeat this study with a larger sample size to confirm and validate these findings. The result of the current study contributes to a growing body of research that has the potential to inform future policies.

Item Type:	Thesis (Undergraduate)
Supervisors:	Name Email Mothersill, David UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Employment; nationality; international students; third-level students; perceived stress; financial stress
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology > Stress (Psychology)
Divisions:	School of Business (- 2025) > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User:	Ciara O'Brien
Date Deposited:	07 Nov 2025 11:57
Last Modified:	07 Nov 2025 11:57
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/8884

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