Perceived social support and stress among the university students

The present study explores the relationship between perceived social support and perceived stress among the university postgraduate students. Descriptive research study design was used and a sample of 84 university postgraduate students was drawn using purposive sampling technique. The multidimensional scale of perceived social support by Zimet et al. (1988), and perceived stress scale by Cohen and Williamson (1988) were administered on 84 university students within the age range of 20 to 25 years (M=22.13, SD=.99), and the sample comprised of 64 female (76.2%) and 20 male (23.8%). Statistical analyses of the research data reveal high perceived social support from family (60.7%), friends (58.3%) and significant others (58.3%) in university students; majority of the students (78.6%) reported moderate perceived stress, followed by severe (14.3%) and low perceived stress (7.1%). Female students showed greater perceived stress and greater perceived social support from significant others than male students, however, male students showed greater perceived social support from family and friends than female students. Findings of the present study show significant, negative correlation (r=-.25, p<.01) between perceived social support from significant others and perceived stress; significant, negative correlation (r=-.27, p<.01) between perceived social support from family and perceived stress; negative correlation (r= -.19) between perceived social support from friends and perceived stress which confirms that perceived social support from significant others, family and friends helps in reducing perceived stress among the university students.