Individuals undergoing the learning process at public or private higher education institutions are called students. The numerous pressures and demands experienced by students while working on their thesis can lead to academic stress. Common effects of stress among students include feelings of fear, anger, smoking, and insomnia. Students must be able to manage their stress quickly and appropriately to complete their thesis on time.
This study used a correlational research design with a cross-sectional approach. The population was 123 undergraduate Nursing students from Muhammadiyah University of Ponorogo, class of 2024. The sampling technique used was total sampling. Data collection used a questionnaire, and analysis used the chi-square test.
The results showed that 93 respondents experienced moderate stress while working on their thesis, and 88 respondents exhibited positive behaviors. The statistical test showed a p-value of 0.015 <0.05, indicating a relationship between student behavior and academic stress in students working on their thesis.
Academic stress is a psychological and physical disorder caused by academic factors and other factors related to academic life. A student must be able to manage stress to complete their thesis on time. One way to cope with academic stress is to express it through their hobbies.