Exploring the Impact of Perceived Stress on Emotional Dysregulation among University Students

Abstract

The existing literature has consistently identified perceived stress as a significant psychological construct, examined across diverse populations and in relation to various psychological variables. The present study aimed to investigate the role of perceived stress in emotional dysregulation within a general population sample. Specifically, the primary objective was to examine the predictive relationship between perceived stress and emotional dysregulation. This correlational study utilized a sample of N = 40 participants (20 females and 20 males), recruited through remote convenience sampling. Participants ranged in age from 20 to 40 years. Data collection was conducted following informed consent and included the administration of a demographic information form, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; Cohen et al., 1983), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-18; Victor & Klonsky, 2010). The results indicated that emotional dysregulation was not significantly predicted by perceived stress, R² = .002, F (1,38) = .204, p > .05. Although the findings did not support a significant predictive relationship, they provide valuable insights into the dynamics of perceived stress and emotional regulation. These results may inform future research on psychological wellbeing and stress management, particularly with larger and more diverse population samples.