Perceived Stress among University Students with Various Attribution Styles

Subject Areas :

Received: 2010-07-06 Accepted : 2010-10-27 Published : 2010-12-21

Keywords: Perceived Stress, attribution styles, internal- external attribution style, stable - unstable attribution style, general-specific attribution style, controllable-uncontrollable attribution style,

Abstract :

This research aims at studying perceived stress among university students with various attribution styles and the relation between these variables. For this purpose, 414 students were selected using cluster sampling method and the data gathered by attribution Style Questionnaire (ASQ) and Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSS) were analyzed by t-test and ANOVA test. The results of this study showed that there is a significant difference regarding perceived stress among students with internal attribution style and those with external attribution style in general and positive events, and the students with internal attribution style attain higher score. Also, there is a significant difference regarding perceived stress among students with uncontrollable attribution style and those with controllable attribution style in general, negative and personal events, and the students with uncontrollable attribution style attain higher scores. Furthermore, the results show that perceived stress among female subjects is higher than that among the male subjects. In addition, it was shown that the only significant difference in attribution styles in male and female subjects at general-specific level is in negative events, and at controllable-uncontrollable level is in negative, personal and general events.