Analyzing the Direct and Indirect Factors Affecting Stress Levels and Mental Stability in University Students: A Parameter Estimation Approach

Abstract

The prevalence of mental stress and its effect on university students continue to escalate worldwide despite existing control measure in order to promote good health among university students has been a major concern. This study explores the parameter estimations of both direct and indirect factors affecting stress, academic performance, health conditions and mental stability among university students using Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) through the application of initial value problem. Direct factors include academic workload, social media usage, and procrastination habits, while indirect factors covers social support, financial concerns, and living situations. The model findings indicate that an increase in the rate of these factors correlates with heightened stress level and decreased mental stability. Specifically, an increase in the rate of direct and indirect factors by 0.5 results in a 38%   reduction in stress and an exponential increase in mental stability, whereas an escalation by a rate of 10 leads to a 78% increase in stress levels. These results underscore the critical impact of both direct and indirect stressors on students' mental health and highlight the need for effective management strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of these factors.